It reaches 296 feet above Hurricane Creek for a full span of 918 feetthe longest and tallest bridge on the Alaska Railroad. Fourteen years on, Palin's 'bridge to nowhere' comment still resounds. GRAVINA ISLAND, ALASKA . Milk the next few months for all you can license wise, nothing like a local celebrity to drive your image sales. "[47], Many media groups in the U.S. noted that Palin changed her position regarding the bridges, and concluded that she exaggerated her claim that she stopped the proposals from going through. KETCHIKAN, Alaska (CNN) -- The "Bridge to Nowhere" may have been shelved. For the first eight years after its completion in 1921, it was the tallest bridge in the United States. The island is connected to the city by a ferry that runs to the airport, well past the point where the bridge was to have been built. Bridge to Nowhere photo, Ketchikan, Alaska. And in the last few years, the Alaska Republican has been a poster boy for congressional spending critics. (population 50) at a cost to federal taxpayers of $320 million, by June 30, 2022. SIEGEL: 2004, April 10th, 2004 an article appears in the New York Times in which you're quoted. When new Gov. If youre visiting Denali National Park, youll want to read all about these15 Fascinating Things You Probably Didnt Know About Denali National Park. In November 2006, Sarah Palin is elected and from what we can tell, she was supporting it. I suppose I should point out that the Bridge is not technically Alaskas famed Bridge to Nowhere, but the nomenclature seems to fit rightly enough. money for the bridges to nowhere and Congress will apply the money JUNEAU -- The name "Bridge to Nowhere" still rankles in Ketchikan 10 years after congressional opponents of earmarks used it to attack federal money for the bridge to nearby Gravina Island and the city's airport. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. Ketchikan's airport is the second largest in Southeast Alaska, after Juneau International Airport, and handled over 200,000 passengers a year or 550 per day, while the ferry shuttled 350,000 people in the same time period (as of December2006[update]).[11]. From Alaska's 'bridge to nowhere' to Pyongyang's Hotel of Doom, via a 1bn arts centre with a dodgy roof, here are the world's most high-profile wastes of capital . And I think it coalesced a lot of things that he had seen into, you know, one word. LOL. There were a few different options created for the bridge and Im not sure what the final decision was as I moved from the area a few years ago, but I know several of the plans had the bridge quite a ways south of town, which would mean having to build a new road over on Gravina through an area that is not currently developed. The 3.2-mile road was built at a cost of $28 million by Kiewit Pacific Co. of Anchorage. SIEGEL: Ultimately though, if the earmark was changed, it no longer was dedicating this $223 million to the bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island. Here is a link to the map and story about the other nowhere bridge (the one to Sen Murkowski and shortcut to Wasilla) Alaska Congressmen Attempt to Earmark 'Bridge to Nowhere' For Personal Profiteering. Stevens spokesman Aaron Saunders said Friday the senator was interested in how the state ultimately used the money. Ketchikan, Alaska is infamous for the now-abandoned plan to expensively bridge the strait between the city and its international airport on Gravina Island, dubbed (IMO, unfairly) a "bridge to nowhere". ", she answered: "Yes. Built in 1911 as part of the Copper River and Northwestern Railway (nicknamed Cant Run and Never Will), the Gilahina Trestle was not quite 900 long, and nearly 100 high. Thanks for the Ketchikan perspective. Ketchikan, do not value the Gravina Island bridge project, its The next year, they changed the language. But she didn't attempt to void the already signed construction contracts for the approach road. counted towards a state's equity bonus and thus are part of the September 2006: Palin, campaigning for governor in Ketchikan, holds up a pro-bridge T-shirt proclaiming, "Nowhere Alaska 99901," referring to the primary zip code of Ketchikan. This is also the site of Southern Californias only commercial bungee-jumping operation, run by Bungee America. RMAJN58E - Florida Keys Old Overseas Highway Bridge Bridge to Nowhere old 7-mile bridge with missing section RM 2G88E11 - Dunbar, United Kingdom. Getting here requires some work. "It was built to the standard to be able to have traffic moving at a decent clip," said state Department of Transportation spokesperson Jeremy Woodrow. The decision to build the road before the bridge was blasted in 2010 by the Legislature's audit division, which said it was "not in the public's best interest given the lack of congressional financial support for the bridges and the significant increase in estimated cost.". He wrote this excellent piece which I think basically was its introduction to the national audience. Despite the And one night, had a couple beers in me, and I got a little more creative and I came up with the term Bridge to Nowhere. (population 8,900) with its airport on the Island of Gravina Abandoned bridge hidden deep in the San Gabriel Mountains. Dubbed the "Bridge to Perhaps thats reason enough for some funding, restore the west end of the bridge, and the Gilahina Trestle can be known as Alaskas Bridge to Somwhere namely, the other side of the Gilahina River. Getting here requires some work. Yeah the downtown area is a pretty dense, but there are a couple roads leading out of town to some less populated and much more scenic areas. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who hollered earliest and loudest about Alaska's "Bridge to Nowhere," says that he spoke with Gov. The "Bridge to Nowhere" still rankles in Ketchikan a decade after congressional opponents of earmarks used it to go after money for the bridge to nearby Gravina Island and the city's airport, but . Last fall, after House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) earmarked $223 . I can just imagine something like the French Viaduct, but with a toll of $30.00 each way. Sarah is speaking in Anchorage on Saturday, but I would rather be in Denali thats where Im heading! road in the morning fog - bridge to nowhere california stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. [36][37] These claims have been widely questioned or described as misleading in several newspapers across the political spectrum. 3058 (109th): Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, -- GovTrack.us", "Stevens Vehemently Opposes Coburn Amendment to Eliminate Alaska Bridges", "Stevens says he'll quit if bridge funds diverted", "For a Senate Foe of Pork Barrel Spending, Two Bridges Too Far", "Palin touts stance on 'Bridge to Nowhere,' doesn't note flip-flop", "Palin criticized during gubernatorial campaign for her support of Gravina Island Bridge", "Palin voiced initial support for the proposed Gravina Island bridge during campaign", "Palin defends the bridge project, asks people to band together", "Palin Criticized during gubernatorial campaign for her support of Gravina Island Bridge", "Palin "bridge to nowhere" line angers many Alaskans", "DOT 'leaning' toward ferries; cites bridge cost", "Palin was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it", "Congress earmark alteration for Alaska prompts Governor Palin's new state budget without bridge", "Lawmakers deal with voter anger over 'pork', "Ted Earmarked Funds for Bridge that Goes Nowhere", "Palin changed her mind for public expediency", "Alaska abandons controversial Ketchikan bridge project", "Record Contradicts Palin's 'Bridge' Claims", "Fact Check: Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere", "Account of a Bridge's Death Slightly Exaggerated", "As Campaign Heats Up, Untruths Can Become Facts Before They're Undone", "McCain Blasts Palin's "Bridge to Nowhere", "McCain Blamed Bridge collapse on Bridge to Nowhere", "McCain connected 35W bridge collapse to Palin's pork", "Excerpts: Charlie Gibson Interviews GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin", "Press picks over litter of lies on the Palin trail US Election", "Sarah Palin said yes, thanks, to a road to nowhere in Alaska", "Bailout Negotiations Continue; FBI Targets Wall Street Firms", "Palin Defends Construction of 'Road to Nowhere', H.R.662 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, "Gravina Access Project, Environmental Impact Statement, Figure 2.10, Alternative F1, Bridges (200' East and 120' West), Between Tongass Avenue and Airport, via Pennock Island: Alignment". "The concentration is not going to be on a $400 million bridge.". Post-Convention Check-In With The Political Junkie. In her public comments, referring to her own residence in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, she said: "OK, youve got Valley trash standing here in the middle of nowhere. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. the blue duck lodge located in the whanganui national park is a working cattle farm with a focus on conservation. The National Park Service is all about funding for construction projects, so the Gilahina Trestle will probably be the recipient of some cash. The one section to the left looks like it is about to fall down already. bill to transfer the $223 million that Congress had previously Then-Gov. Even at that, I dont know if there is much money to be made! Republican U.S. House candidates Sarah Palin (on screen) and Nick . This covered bridge could have elevators and escalators; if medical personnel need to reach the ferry, they can use it. 07/10/2012 04:43 AM EDT. You know, the senator has been committed to cutting wasteful spending for a long time. Murkowski, the local community and some legislators. (Creative Commons photo by Bob Weinstein) Ketchikan . Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options await you. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We will never spam or share your email! But Weinstein, a Democrat, said Palin instead spent $26 million to build a road "that will not go to a bridge.". The audit also said the highway construction appeared to have been rushed to get it done before Murkowski left office, and that the department violated procurement rules by shortening bidding deadlines to get the construction awarded. Theres no Mickey Ds, but theres a good spot to camp, and delicious, crystal clear water in the Gilahina River. But the deal had been signed just before she took office in December 2006, Stapleton said. Images taken 8-19-07. Market data provided by Factset. When she was running for governor in 2006, Palin said she was insulted by the term "bridge to nowhere," according to Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein, a Democrat, and Mike Elerding, a Republican . Citation Barak D. Richman, The King of Rockingham County and the Original Bridge to Nowhere Contracts Stories 306-336 (2006) The town seven blocks wide and eight miles long has little room to grow. CNN Special Investigations Unit. "It'd be nice to see them put something over here now they have a road: park, picnic benches, something to get people out here," said P.J. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos At a public forum, Palin held up a pro-bridge T-shirt designed by a Ketchikan artist, Mary Ida Henrikson. "[20] Later that month, at a Chamber of Commerce meeting in Wasilla, Alaska, Democratic candidate Tony Knowles criticized Palin for supporting the Knik Arm Bridge, the Gravina Island Bridge, and a road north out of Juneau instead of rebuilding the Parks Highway. Senator JOHN McCAIN (Republican, Arizona; Presidential Nominee): The tipping point, my friends, was the $233-million bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it, the so-called Bridge to Nowhere. All rights reserved. In the meantime, Bridge to Nowhere works for me. Origin of bridge unknown. You were wearing a T-shirt in the 2006 campaign, showed your support for the bridge to nowhere." Let us know in the comments below! serve a tiny fraction of the state's citizens. Drive 11.6 miles north, passing the East Fork Ranger Station at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. willingness of many in Alaska to give back the bridge to pay for It's one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. Much of the publics attitude toward Alaska bridges is based on inaccurate portrayals of the projects here. was simply impractical. The little bit of development you do see on Gravina Island is the Ketchikan Airport, currently serviced by a ferry. Mr. ASHDOWN: The senator is a friend of taxpayers, but that's an incorrect statement. them by the taxpayers. All rights reserved. What did you think? That had to be spent on the Gravina road and nothing else. How can we help to get that bridge to no where? "[36] Newsweek, commenting on Palin's "astonishing pivot", remarked: "Now she talks as if she always opposed the funding."[42]. objected to the bridge on their editorial pages. Yep, looks wide enough for perhaps at least a 2 lane paved highway maybe a Micky Ds rest stop over there at the end. And he contacted me and he said he wanted to do a story on it. As anyone running for statewide office in Alaska, to oppose a project like this would have been a political suicide. [3] In opposing Mr. ASHDOWN: Right. She killed the Bridge to Nowhere - that is correct. Palin's campaign coordinator in the city, Republican Mike Elerding, remarked, "She said 'thanks but no thanks,' but they kept the money." Most importantly, pushing back would show the nation that I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. Copyright 2008 NPR. 56.9120, 22.9756 Notes . The Gilahina Trestle, crossing the Gilahina River, was once an impressive structure. Many of the earmarks, he claimed, are Crazy times. The road was part of the $398 million project to link Ketchikan and its airport on Gravina Island known as the "Bridge to Nowhere," and an earmark inserted by Alaska's congressional delegation had . I have a feeling this might have some legs in it still. But the "Road to Nowhere" is alive and well. According to Alaskan state officials, the road project went ahead because the money came from the federal government, and would otherwise have had to be returned. Defunding the bridge, he said, Last summer while I was in Ketchikan, I hiked up the hill above town to get a better perspective of the destination for the "Bridge to Nowhere". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Frank Murkowski ordered work on the bridge project to begin with the construction of the highway south from the airport to the channel between Gravina Island and Revillagigedo Island, on which Ketchikan resides. ANCHORAGE The bridge to nowhere is still trying to get somewhere. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. I told the Congress, thanks, but no thanks on that Bridge to Nowhere. That's where the bridge was supposed to pick up." She said there wasn't enough money to . Not all the people in that community even were asking for a $400 million or $300 million bridge. It will take about an hour and a half to complete it, depending on your skill levels. Bridge to Nowhere Photo. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. We Don't Need Another "Bridge to Nowhere". congressional leadership, support its resistance. Miles Glacier Bridge is a four-span through truss bridge located in the U.S. state of Alaska. All rights reserved. Mr. ASHDOWN: Yeah. SIEGEL: Today, Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Republican of South Carolina, writes an op-ed page piece in the Wall Street Journal, which he says, yeah, she was for it but then after she realized the problem with earmarks, Governor Palin was against it. The Gilahina Trestle is now listed on the National Historic Register, which means it'll probably come in for some . This is all very cool, but it means calling the watercourse the Gilahina river actually translates as Gilahi river river. This one-lane historic bridge was built in the early 1900s, from 1909-1910, as a one-track railroad bridge for the Copper River and . The bridge has a height of 50ft and a width of 100 feet. You guys do an amazing job! Keep up the great work! the bridge to nowhere is a unique and historical landmark in the development of new zealand. It features wide shoulders and sweeping curves to handle the large volume of traffic the road was expected to see one day. And so, the governor had no options." Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 10 Bridge To Nowhere Was Built In 1936 As Part Of The California State Route 39 Highway Project. Sen. McCain: Well, now we're employing a strategy of guns and pork. But some locals said they'll find some way to use the road, such as running or bicycle riding. Legal Statement. Just a little under 40 years later, in 1968, it was deemed unfit for modern traffic needs not difficult to understand, given its narrow width. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter, and loves to see and experience new things! The cart was put before the horse when road builders constructed a massive concrete bridge over the San Gabriel River in 1936. His advertising and comments that (before September 21, 2006) contradicted Governor Sarah Palin's support of the bridge drew the attention of the media[46] when he chose Palin as his running mate, opening the ticket to charges of hypocrisy. Earmarking foes and fiscal . For the first two weeks of her campaign, Palin routinely told audiences in her stump speech that she told Congress "thanks, but no thanks" for the bridge, which was backed by the leaders of Alaska's congressional delegation. Read Abbie Boudreau's "backstory" blog on "Road to nowhere". The bridge has a height of 50ft and a width of 100 feet. Alaska's Gravina Island (population less than 50) will soon be connected to the megalopolis of Ketchikan (pop. I never did anything with this photo, once the funding was lost and the project fell out of the news, the image had little value . the blue duck lodge located in the whanganui national park is a working cattle farm with a focus on conservation. area.". pictures of the bridge to nowhere in alaska. As a side note, you might notice that many of the rivers in the Wrangell-St. Elias region seem to end with the sound na Chitina river, Kuskulana river, Nazina river, Tana river, etc, are a few Ive mentioned on this blog before. "I mean, it's pretty here." become an object of national ridicule and a symbol of the fiscal She has dropped the line from her stump speech in the past week, but a McCain-Palin aide said that her prepared remarks are being tweaked as needed to reflect current events, and it could come back again. "We will continue to look for options for Ketchikan to allow better access to the island," the Republican governor said. And she actively was an advocate for it. I think part of the cost also included some pretty extensive roads that would need to be built. But Alaska still got the money. Yeah, this was taken last week. Mr. ASHDOWN: Tim Egan, he's a New York Times reporter who's an expert on Alaska, all things Alaska, and he'd read our write-up on the bridge. Bridge to Nowhere. Seven fish-bearing streams needed bridges. Just last month, presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said pet projects could have played a role in a Minnesota bridge collapse that killed 13 people earlier this year. , Your email address will not be published. Sarah Palin holds up a T-shirt labeled "Nowhere, Alaska 99901" during a gubernatorial campaign forum in Ketchikan in 2006. state-by-state allocation formula. We're talking, of course, about the famed plan to build a nearly $400 million bridge to connect the tiny Alaska city of Ketchikan to Gravina, an island with just a few dozen residents and an airport. All rights reserved. battlefield park jackson, ms . Remember the "Bridge to Nowhere"? This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. "We worked 30 years to get funding for this priority project.". Sarah Palin let the "Road to Nowhere" go ahead because the contract had been signed. [14] In his speech on the Senate floor, Stevens threatened to quit Congress if the funds were removed from his state. [54] The motion lost and the funding was kept. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. We have beautiful beaches with white sugar sand That would make for some gorgeous photos. June 22, 2022; justin jefferson under armour contract; guardala mouthpiece history; pictures of the bridge to nowhere in alaska