September 16, 2022 by James Brooks, Alaska Beacon. Make sure a trip to Denali is in your near future! Sarah Palin holds up a T-shirt labeled "Nowhere, Alaska 99901" during a gubernatorial campaign forum in Ketchikan in 2006. 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.". I have a feeling this might have some legs in it still. 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. The window is now while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist. Miles Glacier Bridge, Alaska, damaged by a 1964 earthquake (photograph by Jet Lowe) Birmingham, . Gov. would direct at most $75 million to Louisiana, with the remaining Let us know in the comments below! The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Behind the Bridge to Nowhere Ketchikan Alaska As We See It - Through Photographs Fiction Condition: Very Good From a smoke free / Pet free environment If there is a problem with your item once you receive it. Senator Coburn's amendment to defund the bridge, one prominent Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska became the object of strong media criticism when he strongly opposed diverting the Gravina and Knik Arm Bridge funds to help in the disaster aid. 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. Ketchikan looks like a densely populated little strip. their august institution of democracy still maintains the moral Pass San Gabriel Reservoir and turn right on East Fork Road. Thanks for sharing! 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Biden's bridge to nowhere. Collect, curate and comment on your files. The bridge to nowhere - sometimes called Garry Bridge lies beyond the Tolsta Village - and is on the route of what was to be Lord Leverhulme's new route to Ness. [35], On August 29, 2008, when introduced as Republican presidential nominee John McCain's running mate, Governor Palin told the crowd: "I told Congress, thanks but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere" a line that garnered big applause but upset political leaders in Ketchikan. Not all the people in that community even were asking for a $400 million or $300 million bridge. Anchorage Daily News, Diane Mucha of Eagle River wrote, "Of "Maybe the 200,000 people who cross that bridge every day would have been safer than spending $233 million of your tax dollars on a bridge in Alaska to an island with 50 people on it.". Keep up the great work! iReport.com: Are you in a battleground state? The project gained infamy in 2005 as a waste of taxpayer dollars and the funds earmarked for it were withheld. But we need to focus on what we can do, rather than fight over what has happened. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. willingness of many in Alaska to give back the bridge to pay for The decision in September 2004 was actually for two bridges, connecting Pennock Island in the middle, and is known as Alternative F1. You need to come visit the Clearwater/St.Pete area of Florida. Unfinished highway bridges, Czech republic. But the three-mile access road that was built on the island is ready for residents to take a drive to nowhere. [28] A month later, in September 2007, Palin formally canceled the project. 8,000) by a bridge nearly as long as the Golden Gate and higher . Senator's numbers are right, Alaska's Department of Transportation The Ketchikan Daily News noted that, of the gubernatorial candidates, "Only Palin is consistent in support all of the projects". Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. And she actively was an advocate for it. The idea was to replace the ferry connecting Ketchikan with Gravina Island, where the Ketchikan Airport is. Sarah Palin came into office after having ousted Murkowski in the 2006 primary, she stopped the bridge project, saying it had lost congressional support. 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. Palin directed state transportation officials to find the most "fiscally responsible" alternative for access to the airport. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Bridge to Nowhere Gilahina Trestle, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It's redirected the money to other alternatives in Alaska and has gone to one project that's on the Gravina Island, it's a road project. Based upon your other photos from Ketchikan, it looks like all the money was needed because it was to be a tall bridge so the cruise ships could get underneath it! people of Alaska and to responsible members of Congress who now of Alaska Sarah Palin holds a T-shirt with the zip code for Ketchikan, Alaska, on it at a gubernatorial campaign forum in September 2006. In American politics, Alaska is famous for wasted money on a "bridge to nowhere" in the early 2000s. Meandering through a forest, and along a gorgeous river, this hike offers it all. (population 50) at a cost to federal taxpayers of $320 million, by Alaska officials have put the final kibosh on the infamous "bridge to nowhere" -- a $400 million project tucked into the federal transportation plan 10 years ago that became the symbol of . And I think it coalesced a lot of things that he had seen into, you know, one word. "It's getting more and more use all the time," he said. Getting here requires some work. Bridge to Nowhere is an unforgettable hike, and an understandable Los Angeles favorite. But Palin, now the Republican vice presidential candidate, let the access road go ahead because the contract to build it had been signed, a campaign aide said. In advertisements, McCain labeled the bridge as wasteful spending,[43] and in an August 2007 town hall speech recorded on video[44] and quoted again on April 30, 2008,[45] he blamed the Minneapolis I-35 bridge collapse on the Gravina Island Bridge. But she didn't attempt to void the already signed construction contracts for the approach road. disaster relief, Alaska's congressional delegation has dug in its 662: Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011[4][5][6] [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". Love Alaska? 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". Even at $223 million, the earmarks for the bridge that was supposed to connect Ketchikan to Gravina Island, Alaska, population roughly 50, has had remarkably durable legs as a campaign issue. She killed the Bridge to Nowhere - that is correct. Call this the Railroad to Nowhere. But I made it out for a few photos and back in one piece. It will take about an hour and a half to complete it, depending on your skill levels. The whole bridge project was originally estimated to cost $230 million, including the associated roads. Mr. ASHDOWN: That's right. They have a bunch of snow out at McCarthy already, like a foot and a half or so I think. Your first glimpse of the bridge is astonishingits much larger and majestic than youd expectbut the weirdness doesnt stop here. 07/10/2012 04:43 AM EDT. 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. way of three separate earmarks in the recent highway bill. Kids on an outing in the forest come up against a mysterious hermit who lives on the other side of a bridge, and he is definitely not happy to see them. No, I dont have pictures of any of those folks, I dont even have any photos of the Wasilla City Hall that would probably sell. As anyone running for statewide office in Alaska, to oppose a project like this would have been a political suicide. some of its pork, they fear, so might they. A number of alternative bridge routes were considered. Share your stories, Palin meets with world leaders ahead of VP debate, Obama: McCain wants to 'gamble' with Social Security, Read Abbie Boudreau's "backstory" blog on "Road to nowhere", Road on Alaskan island was built with some of $223 million in taxpayer money, Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein calls the road a waste of money, Road was supposed to be access connector to the failed 'Bridge to Nowhere', 'Bridge to Nowhere' has become symbol of excessive spending. "We have nothing to show for it.". The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. 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". You will only receive blog posts. [2] As a result, Congress removed the federal earmark for the bridge in 2005. Alaska officially abandoned Friday a controversial $400 million public works project mockingly called the 'bridge to nowhere' that became a symbol of pork barrel spending. Its a 10-mile round-trip hike on the East Fork Trail along the San Gabriel River. The road is not yet paved that was expected to happen following bridge construction. Earmarking foes and fiscal . For the first eight years after its completion in 1921, it was the tallest bridge in the United States. 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. Bridge to Nowhere. But some locals said they'll find some way to use the road, such as running or bicycle riding. Keith Ashdown, chief investigator for the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, says he coined the phrase in 2004 after a couple of beers. Hopefully it works out for you Ron. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Located on a hiking trail in Denali National Park, this easy trail takes you along the river to a bridge right in the middle of nowhere. [50][51], CNN reporter Abbie Boudreau took a helicopter over the road. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Images taken 8-19-07. by the House of Representatives, and finally cancelled in 2015. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options await you. You can add on to the loop by taking other trails that connect and making it longer. Foundation. It is built of . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We will never spam or share your email! If Alaska loses Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. state-by-state allocation formula. Watch where road ends . "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. Taking the ferry from Ketchikan, AK to the airport which is on Gravina Island AKA "nowhere."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravina_Island_Bridgehttp://www.boro. "We worked 30 years to get funding for this priority project.". You know, the senator has been committed to cutting wasteful spending for a long time. [8], A ferry runs to the island every 30 minutes, and every 15 minutes during the MaySeptember peak tourist season. Share your stories. And so, the governor had no options." Weight Limit is 10 tons. The trail crosses the river so often that you quickly abandon all hope of dry feet. the bridge to nowhere is a unique and historical landmark in the development of new zealand. "I mean, it's pretty here." One very large bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, where the city's airport is. Its a rickety ole job, at this point, and walking across it with nearly a foot of snow covering each board was, uhhm, sketchy. Yeah, this was taken last week. It is already doing that, even if nothing has yet been built there, said DOT environmental planner John Barnett. U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young, both Republicans, championed the project through Congress two years ago, securing more than $200 million for the bridge between Revillagigedo and Gravina islands. Republican U.S. House candidates Sarah Palin (on screen) and Nick . In 2005, legislation backed by Stevens to build a so-called "bridge to nowhere" became a . Well, the people indigenous to the area, the Ahtna, spoke/speak Athabascan (often also written or pronounced Athapaskan, either is suitably correct, Im told), and the English word river translates to Athabascan as na. Alaska's Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere - The Gilahina Trestle fades into winter, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. I would not get in the way of progress. At Market data provided by Factset. The California State Route 39 highway was supposed to connect the city of Los Angeles with rural communities in the San Gabriel . You were wearing a T-shirt in the 2006 campaign, showed your support for the bridge to nowhere." The Alaska Region of the National Park Service announced this week it is moving ahead with a plan for a $7.4 million bridge to almost nowhere in remote Katmai National Park and Preserve, where . It seems like a small gap for such an expensive bridge, but this is the same channel the cruise ships use toenter town, so I imagine it would have had to be a very tall bridge. responsible senators should relish and, through their votes, show [10] The bridge would cross the Tongass Narrows, part of Alaska's Inside Passage, so the bridge was designed to be tall enough to accommodate ship traffic, including the Alaska Marine Highway and the cruise ships that frequent Alaskan waters during the summer. Keith Ashdown, the chief investigator for the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, is credited with naming the bridge. ROBERT SIEGEL, host: Even at $223 million, the earmarks for the bridge that was supposed to connect Ketchikan to Gravina Island, Alaska, population roughly 50, has had remarkably durable legs as a . I sure enjoyed my visit to your beautiful town! highway bill. Engineers planned to build a direct route from the San Gabriel Valley to Wrightwood, but they finished this mid-point bridge near Azusa long before they built its connecting byways. recognizing that the citizens of Alaska, including many in pictures of the bridge to nowhere in alaska; pictures of the bridge to nowhere in alaska. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. It's a 10-mile round-trip hike on the East Fork Trail along the San Gabriel River. $220 Million+ For A Bridge To An Island With 50 People?!? While discussing the Gravina Island Bridge during an ABC News interview that aired on September 12, 2008, Charles Gibson made the following comment: "but it's now pretty clearly documented. The project wasn't going to be cheap, though: $398 million was the projected cost, and the project encountered steep opposition in the United States Congress in 2005. In stump speeches, Alaska Gov.