HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 111
(By Delegates Hrutkay and Schadler)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the
condition, fitness, and safety of bridges in the state road
system in the State of West Virginia, and to identify, locate
and consider possible sources of funding necessary to provide
proper bridge maintenance, repair, and replacement.
Whereas, Bridges and overpasses play a vital role in the
transportation infrastructure of this state which is vital to the
state economy and economic development as well as the safety and
welfare of the citizens of this state; and
Whereas, The August 2, 2007, bridge collapse on I-35 in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, killed thirteen people and injured over one
hundred others, prompting a nationwide survey of bridge
inspections; and
Whereas, West Virginia ranks fifth in the nation in the number
of overdue or delayed bridge inspections and ranks seventh in the
nation in the number of bridges needing major or minor structural
repair according to a nationwide 2006 survey reported by MSNBC; and
Whereas, West Virginia contains 6,963 bridges carrying
vehicular traffic over bodies of water, valleys, and otherwise impassable geological or manmade obstacles; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Department of Transportation
conducted a statewide survey of the state's bridges during the
Summer of 2007 in which 477 bridges were found to have critical or
poor deck conditions, 620 bridges were found to have critical or
poor superstructure conditions, and 430 bridges were found to have
critical or poor substructure conditions; and
Whereas, The cost of providing all necessary bridge repairs,
maintenance, and replacement is estimated by the Department of
Transportation to be $2.5 billion; and
Whereas, Current funding of the state road fund from present
funding sources is increasingly inadequate to maintain an
acceptable schedule of bridge maintenance, repair, and replacement;
and
Whereas, The recent national bridge disaster and the recent
surveys revealing the deteriorating condition of bridges in this
state have prompted concerns and questions by government officials
and citizens of this state regarding the safety of all members of
the public when traveling the roads and highways of the state
;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the condition, fitness, and safety of bridges in
the state road system in the State of West Virginia, and to identify, locate and consider possible sources of funding necessary
to provide proper bridge maintenance, repair, and replacement; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular
session, two thousand nine, on its findings, conclusions and
recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to
effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
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