Gravina Island Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 55°21′06″N 131°42′57″W / 55.3516°N 131.7158°W |
| Carries | Gravina Island Highway |
| Crosses | Inside Passage |
| Locale | Ketchikan, Alaska |
| Other name(s) | Bridge to Nowhere |
| History | |
| Construction start | Never constructed |
| Construction cost | Estimated budget of $398 million |
| Replaces | Ketchikan International Airport Ferry |
| Location | |
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The Gravina Island Bridge, commonly referred to as the "Bridge to Nowhere", was a proposed bridge to replace the ferry that currently connects the town of Ketchikan, Alaska, United States, with Gravina Island, an island that contains the Ketchikan International Airport as well as 50 residents. The bridge was projected to cost $398 million. Members of the Alaskan congressional delegation, particularly Representative Don Young and Senator Ted Stevens, were the bridge's biggest advocates in Congress, and helped push for federal funding.[1] The project encountered fierce opposition outside Alaska as a symbol of pork barrel spending and is labeled as one of the more prominent "bridges to nowhere".[2] As a result, Congress removed the federal earmark for the bridge in 2005.[3] Funding for the "Bridge to Nowhere" was continued as of March 2, 2011, in the passing of H.R. 662: Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011[4][5][6] by the House of Representatives, and finally cancelled in 2015.[7]
- ^ "$315 Million Bridge to Nowhere" (PDF). Taxpayers for Common Sense. 2005-08-22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-25. Retrieved 2006-11-06.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Alaska: End Sought For 'Bridge To Nowhere'". The New York Times. 2007-09-22.
- ^ Hulse, Carl (2005-11-17). "Two 'Bridges to Nowhere' Tumble Down in Congress". The New York Times.
- ^ H.R. 662, Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved March 4, 2011. "Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011"
- ^ H.R. 662 Roll Call Votes, Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved March 4, 2011. "Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011 Roll Call Votes"
- ^ House Vote #159 (Mar 2, 2011) On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H R 662 Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved March 4, 2011. "159 House Vote #159 (Mar 2, 2011) On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H R 662 Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011"
- ^ "Alaska 'bridge to nowhere' plan is no more as state chooses ferry for Ketchikan". Alaska Dispatch News. 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2017-05-04.