Grant / Construction under way for big bridge move

Construction has begun at two sites nearly 300 miles apart to move a 132-year-old bridge from northern Minnesota to Grant.

[It was a simple fix]

Is it going to be a toll bridge or is this another boondoggle paid for with real transportation funds that could go to fixing roads????

[MNGOP Delegate]

Absolute waste of taxpayer dollars when this could have been a brand new bridge at a fraction of the cost!

[Joe Blow]

This is a perfect example of how the State and Local governments abuse their trust as elected and non-elected officials. All levels of government are broke because of this exact type of foolishness. They are now abusing the honest citizen by stealing the hard earned money of the citizenry through higher levels of traffic enforcement, higher fees, higher taxes, simply because these people do not know what is important and what is foolish. They seem to confuse those concepts nearly 100% of the time.

I welcome any opposing views.

[Poor Reporting]

What would the cost of the new bridge have been to build it using new materials ?

[Incredible70]

Poor Reporting wrote:

What would the cost of the new bridge have been to build it using new materials ?

And add to it the cost for all the approaches and such to bring it up to the higher grade to match the bridge? How about just putting in some crosswalk markings?...we all know that bikes have the right-of-way in those. I'd guess no more that a few hundred bucks for that option...or we can move an old broken down bridge and piss away millions of dollars. Is it any surprise which one the State chose?

[FrankL]

You can't expect the Lance Armstrong wannabes to actually stop to croos a busy road?

Incredible70 wrote:

<quoted text>
And add to it the cost for all the approaches and such to bring it up to the higher grade to match the bridge? How about just putting in some crosswalk markings?...we all know that bikes have the right-of-way in those. I'd guess no more that a few hundred bucks for that option...or we can move an old broken down bridge and **** away millions of dollars. Is it any surprise which one the State chose?

[Torches and Pitchforks]

Close on to $3M (and who knows how much more it will be once all is said and done) for a bike and pedestrian overpass on Manning??? In the midst of a recession no less?
And the MSM, polititians, and some pundits are wondering why the [taxpaying] populance across the country is realy to take up torches and pitchforks and storm the castle.......

[Torches and Pitchforks]

typo correction:..."ready " to take up torches etc....

Since the original bridge is a historic structure, I am sure that some organization or other interested party would have been willing to take it down, refurbish, and display or utilize it elsewhere.

[Pat from Blaine]

Joe Blow wrote:

This is a perfect example of how the State and Local governments abuse their trust as elected and non-elected officials. All levels of government are broke because of this exact type of foolishness. They are now abusing the honest citizen by stealing the hard earned money of the citizenry through higher levels of traffic enforcement, higher fees, higher taxes, simply because these people do not know what is important and what is foolish. They seem to confuse those concepts nearly 100% of the time.
I welcome any opposing views.

Hey Joe Blow.

No opposing view from me just 100% agreement.

Imagine moving a bridge that far. How about exploding it and videotaping it so we can watch it again and again.

thanks

[Joe Blow]

Pat from Blaine wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey Joe Blow.
No opposing view from me just 100% agreement.
Imagine moving a bridge that far. How about exploding it and videotaping it so we can watch it again and again.
thanks

My goodness Pat, please do not give these Idiots any suggestions. They are so dumb that they would probably think that is a great idea. Then since they already have the current plan, would go find another worthless bridge and do as you suggest.

Remember these people are not the best and the brightest. If they are even "C" students, I would be surprised and amazed.

[Joe Blow]

* If a conservative doesn’t like guns, he doesn`t buy one.
* If a liberal doesn't like guns, he feels that no one should have one.

* If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn`t eat meat.
* If a liberal is, he wants to ban all meat products for everyone.

* If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy.
* A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.

* If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
* If a liberal is homosexual, he loudly demands legislated respect.

* If a black man or Hispanic are conservative, they see themselves as independently successful.
* Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.

* If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
* A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

* If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.
* Liberals demand that those they don’t like be shut down.

* If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church.
* A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God or religion silenced.

* If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
* A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

[Aaron]

There has got to be a cheaper way to do this. If it is only for bikes, horses, and peds. Not that I am for it at all but I am well aware that we like to waste money in this state. Sure am glad we have "money" for this.

[Joe Blow]

Aaron wrote:

There has got to be a cheaper way to do this. If it is only for bikes, horses, and peds. Not that I am for it at all but I am well aware that we like to waste money in this state. Sure am glad we have "money" for this.

The point is that we don't have "Money" for this.

[Aaron]

Joe Blow wrote:

<quoted text>
The point is that we don't have "Money" for this.

Well aware of that bud and we shouldn't be doing this.

[Uff Duh]

this type of work keeps people employed. it's the economy, stupid. What do you think the project superintendent (Tim Olson of Minnowa Construction, based in Harmony, Minn.) is going to do with the money his company earns? probably spend it in the economy. more spending, more jobs.

[Joe Blow]

Uff Duh wrote:

this type of work keeps people employed. it's the economy, stupid. What do you think the project superintendent (Tim Olson of Minnowa Construction, based in Harmony, Minn.) is going to do with the money his company earns? probably spend it in the economy. more spending, more jobs.

So we should WASTE good tax dollars because of your idea to stimulate the economy. I don't think so. Maybe Politicians should just stand on bridges and throw money into the air. That would stimulate a bunch.

[Joe Blow]

Aaron wrote:

<quoted text>
Well aware of that bud and we shouldn't be doing this.

What a dumb response!

[Aaron]

Joe Blow wrote:

<quoted text>
What a dumb response!

I'm agree that we shouldn't be wasting money on this.

[Aaron]

I meant to say I.

[Mike in Melrose]

Uff Duh wrote:

this type of work keeps people employed. it's the economy, stupid. What do you think the project superintendent (Tim Olson of Minnowa Construction, based in Harmony, Minn.) is going to do with the money his company earns? probably spend it in the economy. more spending, more jobs.

"It's the economy stupid"...what a cluless statement.

It's the economy, so spend more taxpayer dollars...yep, that's worked really well at the federal level, we should do it at all levels. Everyone should just give up all your money to government so they can give it back to us.

Has anyone out there EVER taken a basic economics class? Better yet, has any liberal out there ever NOT worked for governemnt?