PALIN: I'm not going to stand in the way of progress, that our congressional delegation, in the position of strength that they have right now, they're making those efforts for the state of Alaska to build up our infrastructure. LOL. KETCHIKAN, Alaska (CNN) -- The "Bridge to Nowhere" may have been shelved. But I made it out for a few photos and back in one piece. Fiscally responsible Members of Ketchikan is Alaska's entry port for northbound cruise ships that bring more than 1 million visitors yearly. SIEGEL: You must have felt like you just completed a touchdown pass, you're thinking Mr. ASHDOWN: Yeah, I thought it was done. Dubbed the "Bridge to (population 50) at a cost to federal taxpayers of $320 million, by Senator told a closed-door meeting of conservatives that the plan by the House of Representatives, and finally cancelled in 2015. Senator Coburn's amendment to defund the bridge, one prominent Under mounting political pressure over pork projects, Congress stripped the earmark or stipulation that the money be used for the airport, but still sent the money to the state for any use it deemed appropriate. It is showing the years isnt it. Tap into Getty Images global-scale, data-driven insights and network of over 340,000creators to create content exclusively for your brand. The Gravina Island bridge project is an embarrassment to the people 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. 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. 662. for the hurricane relief efforts. 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. The bridge was built in 1929 in the name of Henry Harrison McPhaul, a notable resident of Yuma. pictures of the bridge to nowhere in alaska. 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". The bridge has a height of 50ft and a width of 100 feet. Dubbed the "bridge to nowhere," it would have connected the small city of Ketchikan to its airport on nearby Gravina island, and it secured a $223 million earmark in 2005. Keith Ashdown, chief investigator for the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, says he coined the phrase in 2004 after a couple of beers. SIEGEL: That's Keith Ashdown of Taxpayers for Common Sense talking with us about the Bridge to Nowhere, a term that he is credited with coining for the notorious Alaska earmark. Boudreau spoke to Mike Elerding, Palin's former campaign coordinator. Last fall, after House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) earmarked $223 . We may borrow that metaphor to contemplate whether the recent U.S.-China dialogue in Anchorage was a bridge to nowhere or will be a catalytic moment to construct a . Foundation. The bridge was projected to cost $398 million. Palin has been heavily criticized for repeating the stock line about killing the "Bridge to Nowhere" without noting that she supported the project as a candidate for governor. Yeah, this was taken last week. It's a 10-mile round-trip hike on the East Fork Trail along the San Gabriel River. Palin interrupted Gibson and insisted, "I was wearing a T-shirt with the zip code of the community that was asking for that bridge. Bridge to Nowhere Photo. congressional leadership, support its resistance. 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 is an unforgettable hike, and an understandable Los Angeles favorite. its remote location makes it a rare tourist sigh - bridge to nowhere stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images WASHINGTON President Biden's push to make his $2.3 trillion infrastructure bill a truly bipartisan affair is running up against a predictable but intractable problem: a lack of Republicans willing to come along. [7], According to the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, the project's goal was to "provide better service to the airport and allow for development of large tracts of land on the island". Don Barrett/Flickr. 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 . Ketchikan's Democratic Mayor Bob Weinstein also criticized Palin for using the term bridge to nowhere, which she had said was insulting when she was in favor of the bridge. area.". Youll come along the river about halfway through your hike, and its a good place to take a quick rest if you need one. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) spoke in support of a motion to recommit the bill (i.e., end the funding)[54] In response, Rep. Mica (R-FL), spoke in opposition (i.e., keep the funding). Campaign spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said Palin would not have allowed the road project to go forward under normal circumstances. (population 8,900) with its airport on the Island of Gravina Perhaps the Port and the City team up and construct a bridge near Harbor Square. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who hollered earliest and loudest about Alaska's "Bridge to Nowhere," says that he spoke with Gov. Yep, looks wide enough for perhaps at least a 2 lane paved highway maybe a Micky Ds rest stop over there at the end. Earmarking foes and fiscal . 17 July, 2021 Pictured: Children jump off the famous Bridge to Nowhere at Belhaven Bay in Dunbar as the sun sets on the Bass Rock. Rumors say that it took less than 8 days to build, and the first train ran across its length on January 28, 1911. The town seven blocks wide and eight miles long has little room to grow. Remember the "Bridge to Nowhere"? The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Funding for the "Bridge to Nowhere" was continued as of March 2, 2011, in the passing of H.R. the blue duck lodge located in the whanganui national park is a working cattle farm with a focus on conservation. He wrote this excellent piece which I think basically was its introduction to the national audience. What did you think? The 3.2-mile road was built at a cost of $28 million by Kiewit Pacific Co. of Anchorage. willingness of many in Alaska to give back the bridge to pay for According to USA Today, the bridge was to have been nearly as long as the Golden Gate Bridge, which is 1.7mi (2.7km) long, and "higher than the Brooklyn Bridge". The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. its remote location makes it a rare tourist sigh - bridge to nowhere stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Mr. ASHDOWN: No. fact would be a considerable benefit to Alaska. 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 . Alaska's Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere - The Gilahina Trestle fades into winter, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Murphy, who works on the island. Gov. Find the perfect Bridge to nowhere alaska stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Free or royalty-free photos and images. Weight Limit is 10 tons. All About Sarah Palin Alaska U.S. Presidential Election, iReport.com: Are you in a battleground state? SIEGEL: 2004, April 10th, 2004 an article appears in the New York Times in which you're quoted. [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. 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. One House Pass San Gabriel Reservoir and turn right on East Fork Road. [34], The city of Ketchikan has already begun to develop roads and a small amount of infrastructure for Gravina Island's 50 inhabitants. Get credit for your contribution by submitting a complete place entry with photos. Alaska's Gravina Island (population less than 50) will soon be connected to the megalopolis of Ketchikan (pop. 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. Nice to actually see where my tax dollars were supposed to be spent (hope you enjoyed them even if you didnt get the bridge ). But the deal had been signed just before she took office in December 2006, Stapleton said. You know, the senator has been committed to cutting wasteful spending for a long time. course, Alaska should and, hopefully, will volunteer to reject the 8,000) by a bridge nearly as long as the Golden Gate and higher . Perhaps This is also the site of Southern Californias only commercial bungee-jumping operation, run by Bungee America. The earmark for the infamous Alaska bridge, referred to as the "bridge to nowhere" allocated $223 million dollars to build a bridge from Ketchikan, Alaska, to a tiny island. BH Photo #131225 Pass San Gabriel Reservoir and turn right on East Fork Road. DOT officials at the time said that if they didn't then continue with the bridge, they might be required to pay back to the federal government the $28 million it spent on the road. people of Alaska and to responsible members of Congress who now 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 . But the "Road to Nowhere" is alive and well. This infamous bridge, from . Local officials have said access to Gravina Island, population 50, is needed for the town and its economy to grow. Post-Convention Check-In With The Political Junkie. With the Bridge to Nowhere a national laughingstock, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., in October 2005 proposed an amendment that would have redirected $125-million in funding for the Alaska bridge . 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. 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. ", Back in Anchorage, Call this the Railroad to Nowhere. 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". 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. Stevens spokesman Aaron Saunders said Friday the senator was interested in how the state ultimately used the money. But I made it out for a few photos and back in one piece. Milk the next few months for all you can license wise, nothing like a local celebrity to drive your image sales. "There is no question we desperately need to construct new roads in this state, including in southeast Alaska, where skyrocketing costs for the Alaska Marine Highway System present an impediment to the state's budget and the region's economy," von Scheben said in a statement. Less publicized is that, before the bridge project was cancelled, an approach road about three miles long was built to connect the airport with . She said the best option would be to upgrade the ferry system. PS- It's PAY-lin [revised 2008-08-31] Gov Palin did NOT reject the pork from Sen. Stevens. 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 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. In the meantime, Bridge to Nowhere works for me. All rights reserved. responsible senators should relish and, through their votes, show "The Bridge to Nowhere" has been a much-used phrase by the McCain Campaign. The trail crosses the river so often that you quickly . The little bit of development you do see on Gravina Island is the Ketchikan Airport, currently serviced by a ferry. 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. Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., The hike is within Denali National Park, which is a designated wilderness. 2023 Getty Images. It has also become an embarrassment to the 662: Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gravina_Island_Bridge&oldid=1101616620, Buildings and structures in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, Political controversies in the United States, Transportation in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2006, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 July 2022, at 23:56. The train bridge may be the most famous and scenic bridge in Alaska, subject of many iconic photographs. All rights reserved. The Gravina Island Highway was to become part of what's officially known as the Gravina Access Project to better connect the city with Ketchikan International Airport. I might be missing out on some business opportunities. [32][33], Asked why she initially supported the bridge, Palin's communications director Bill McAllister said, "It was never at the top of her priority list, and in fact the project isn't necessarily dead there's still the potential for improved ferry service or even a bridge of a less costly design". DOT's Woodrow said that because the official "purpose and need" statement of the Gravina Access Project was not just to improve access to the airport but also to open developable land on Gravina Island, it is unlikely federal transportation officials will demand repayment. Tag #VISITCALIFORNIA on Instagram to have your trip featured on our page. "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 removal of the project in a technical corrections bill or other Sarah Palin has touted her eventual decision to abandon the Gravina Island bridge, which she initially supported. 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. GRAVINA ISLAND, ALASKA . Abandoned bridge hidden deep in the San Gabriel Mountains. It's one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. Crazy times. state-by-state allocation formula. Its a rickety ole job, at this point, and walking across it with nearly a foot of snow covering each board was, uhhm, sketchy. That's progress. The controversy began with the 2006 National Appropriations Bill, an omnibus spending bill covering transportation, housing, and urban development for the following year. [3][16][17] The Coburn Amendment was defeated with a heavy bipartisan majority, with 15 senators in favor of the amendment and 82 senators in opposition. This is looking from Ketchikan across the Tongass Narrows to Gravina Island, the destination of the bridge. But ferry access isn't likely to provide the kind of developable land Ketchikan needs, he said. recognizing that the citizens of Alaska, including many in When new Gov. SIEGEL: Was there any moment in Governor Palin's handling of this appropriation that can be construed as her saying thanks, but no thanks? The bridge would have used two high spans to connect the two big islands, as well as Pennock Island, in the channel between the two. 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. Following the construction of the island highway, the $28 million expenditure wound up being used by both bridge supporters to make the case for construction and bridge critics who called it a boondoggle. (Creative Commons photo by Bob Weinstein) Ketchikan . Although you'll see lots of people picnicking and camping towards the beginning of the trail, as you trek further out closer to the bridge, it is much easier to find a place of your own. "We will continue to look for options for Ketchikan to allow better access to the island," the Republican governor said. 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. I sure enjoyed my visit to your beautiful town! "Leadership staffer suggested that retribution could be levied for ", she answered: "Yes. And I think it coalesced a lot of things that he had seen into, you know, one word. SIEGEL: Called by its critics, The Bridge to Nowhere, that was April 10th. Sarah Palin let the "Road to Nowhere . The road is not yet paved that was expected to happen following bridge construction. Thanks for the Ketchikan perspective. You need to come visit the Clearwater/St.Pete area of Florida. Remember Alaska's "Bridge to Nowhere," a $400 million span that was supposed to connect Ketchikan to its airport on sparsely inhabited Gravina Island? You can add on to the loop by taking other trails that connect and making it longer. Transportation officials at the time replied that the road was built with the support of Gov. In the years 1965-1975 was carried construction of a water reservoir Svihov and both bridges were flooded almost to the level . Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. Yeah that section is actually pretty badly collapsing on the right its all tilted and askew. Dubbed the "Bridge to Nowhere," the bridge in Alaska would connect the town of Ketchikan (population 8,900) with its airport on the Island of Gravina (population 50) at a cost to federal taxpayers . in the state's newspapers, and the papers' editors have also In opposing Federal Highway Administration spokesman Doug Hecox stated that Palin could have opted not to use the federal earmark, which would have allowed Congress the opportunity to send it to other federal needs. In American politics, Alaska is famous for wasted money on a "bridge to nowhere" in the early 2000s. The borough shifted its support from the bridge to the ferry when it realized the bridge was never going to happen, Bockhorst said. Bridge to Nowhere. You supported that bridge before you opposed it. Coburn (R-OK) will offer an amendment to the Senate's appropriation On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Further driving up costs were all the muskeg and peat that had to be removed and replaced with rock and gravel to get through the wetlands. The final stretch leads to the high-walled canyon known as the Narrows, where water squeezes through a deep and narrow gorge, spanned by the Bridge to Nowhere. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Bridge to Nowhere Gilahina Trestle, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It started in 2002, he says, when he got a tip about a huge pork barrel project. What some people might not realize is that Bridge to Nowhere was actually part of a major infrastructure project. It charges $6 per adult, with free same-day return, and $7 per automobile also with same day return as of April 2021.[9]. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Mr. ASHDOWN: The senator is a friend of taxpayers, but that's an incorrect statement. . A larger bridge was built upstream, along with a dam that rerouted the river. If youre looking for a fun adventure outside, this bridge to nowhere in Alaska is a great place to start! 56.9120, 22.9756 Notes . this national humiliation, many in Alaska have vented their anger find themselves tarred by the same brush dipped in the muck of the Despite the Murkowski, the local community and some legislators. The 8,000 residents of Ketchikan continue to be connected to their airport by ferry. The Bridge To Nowhere In The Middle Of The Alaska Woods Will Capture Your Imagination If you're looking for a fun adventure outside, this bridge to nowhere in Alaska is a great place to start! Orleans, to Alaska Native people and to the Nation for their was simply impractical. 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. In fact, rumor has it this bridge was a model for San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge. [54] The motion lost and the funding was kept. Its since fallen into some disrepair, as is evident from this image. Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and its clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island. You may get to see a few daredevils take the plunge. The project also had a history of federal appropriations showing support there as well, it said. Available for both RF and RM licensing. News, Dave Person wrote, "Thinking about the immense Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos Miles Glacier Bridge is a four-span through truss bridge located in the U.S. state of Alaska. In 2006, with the bridge in dispute and increasingly unlikely to ever be built, then-Gov. State officials eventually announced the end of the potential building in 2015. 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. KETCHIKAN, Alaska (CNN) -- The "Bridge to Nowhere" may have been shelved. "There's some private land out there and some borough land, so it's being used for access to private lots and access to borough land, and it's also being used for some hunting, people going out sightseeing, berry picking, things like that. , Your email address will not be published. In the [27], Although Palin was originally a main proponent of the bridge, McCainPalin television advertisements claimed that Palin "stopped the Bridge to Nowhere". You know, wearing shirts that said I'm from nowhere Alaska to saying, we have to support our congressional delegation, their efforts to bring money back to our state. [2] As a result, Congress removed the federal earmark for the bridge in 2005. Construction of bridges was started at 1939 but at 1950 was by communist regime the construction of highway stopped. present, a ferry service runs to the island, but some in the town This makes it a great family hike because little legs will have no problem keeping up with you. the bridge to nowhere is a unique and historical landmark in the development of new zealand. 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 . "Gov. Have the bridge to nowhere in Alaska, a $233 million bridge to an island with 50 people on it, or a $1,000 tax credit for every child in America?" Tell me about that. measure," BNA reported. I can just imagine something like the French Viaduct, but with a toll of $30.00 each way. [26] On January 17, 2007, she sent a revised budget to the president of the Alaska Senate that would restrict capital spending and rescinded the $185 million state share of the bridge funding.[27]. "We have nothing to show for it.". Bridge to Nowhere photo, Ketchikan, Alaska. battlefield park jackson, ms . You guys do an amazing job! them by the taxpayers. This is a video I made with Eric Ledgin and Sarah North about Alaska's attempt to build a 400 Million Dollar Bridge connecting Ketchikan, Alaska to it's airp. CNN Special Investigations Unit. And he contacted me and he said he wanted to do a story on it. 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. Share. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. [12] The west span of the bridge was designed to have a vertical clearance of 120 feet (37m), and the east span of the bridge was to have a vertical clearance of 200 feet (61m). authority to be trusted with hard-earned tax dollars. "It's getting more and more use all the time," he said.