Troubled Bridges, Troubled Taxpayers, Oh My

Bridges. We cross them each day, many without realizing they are there. As with much in the Garden State, bridges get little respect except when they can’t be crossed. Then, they become the object of debate and hate. Everyone has an idea about what should be done about bridges, especially those in Cape May County.
Until April, the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge is closed. Folks living in Sea Isle City, especially in the south end, are really inconvenienced. They must travel all the way through the city to the boulevard, then over the marshes to other highways. If there were a fire, and additional help called to the scene in Townsend’s Inlet, pity the homeowner. Avalon’s trek over the roads would be at least 20 minutes.
That’s just one of the factors to consider about bridges.
A while ago, a Sea Isle City taxpayers’ spokesman asked freeholders to build new Ocean Drive bridges. The cost, let’s just say $300 million for a round figure, they figured could be paid by the county with each tax bill going up, but with barrier island residents bearing most of the burden. No action was taken.
Some looked upon the proposal as buffoonery. Others secretly admitted they were right, that the aging bridges that link coastal towns together on Ocean Drive are in sore need of replacement, but asking for a tax hike is political suicide. I had to think of that Barry Goldwater campaign billboard in Atlantic City an eon or two ago, “In your heart you know he’s right.” They are right, new bridges are needed. So are gold bricks.
Add to the angst New Jersey’s anti-everything policies, especially when comes to doing anything for human betterment. It becomes apparent we are witnessing the new normal fixing bridges, cursing our pitiful condition.
“You can’t do that here,” would be heard at just about every turn in the road going toward new bridges. Surely, what the state would not allow, the federal government, via one of its alphabet agencies, would certainly toss rocks in the road. The bottom line reality, if a magical check appeared right now to pay for all new bridges in Cape May County, getting permission to build them would take nothing short of five to 10 years. Go ahead, start singing “The Impossible Dream” (from “The Man of LaMancha.”)
In the meantime, I guess we would have to rely on those nifty creations used in the Civil War: pontoon bridges. Oh darn, I forgot, we couldn’t use them either, because marine traffic has the right of way. It’s something older than your great-grandfather’s moustache, but marine traffic has precedence over vehicular traffic.
So, where were we? Oh yes, trying to get permits if funding was assured.
Voila! The brain trust in Trenton has that one figured out too. Hike the gas tax. Quick fix. Done deal? Hmmm.
The state’s Transportation Trust Fund, formerly running on empty, is presently operating on fumes. Those fumes evaporate June 30. That’s when the cash crashes, the loot leaves, and your shivering wallet may be attacked once again. Those who listen to their wallets, and who have the wherewithal, are eagerly scanning road maps for the nearest exit from New Jersey. It’s a great place to live, but facts are facts, and affordability to remain is becoming an elusive butterfly.
Could it be a “created crisis,” a staged event, this bridge dilemma? No, it couldn’t be. That wouldn’t happen here in one of the most expensive states to build roads and bridges. It’s probably just the result of years of disinterest and neglect, not out of meanness, understand, but because there seems to be an abiding creed: If it be not broken, fix it not. Trouble is, our bridges are broken and need fixing.
Curmudgeons like to poke fun at government, and often it’s for very good reason. When the bridge closes, and you have to go the long way around, as in south end of Sea Isle City or north end of Avalon wanting to head to Sea Isle City. It makes you wonder. Where did the money go all those years?
Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) recently told the county Chamber of Commerce while he opposes the proposed gasoline tax, he believes there is bipartisan support to make it happen. As he noted, while a few cents here and there might not sound like much to the solons in the gold-domed capitol, for folks who must travel to work in the First District, an extra $10 or $20 is a big deal. Sorry, we’re in the “south end” of the state, we send money north, that’s what we do.
Even more astounding, one of the state’s largest newspapers reported that the state transportation commissioner ordered an inspection of every bridge (537) in the state. That edict came in the wake of the Jan. 20 overpass collapse in Cincinnati, Ohio that claimed a life.
Keep in mind, a bridge inspection is not a quick job, it takes time, engineering expertise and, dare I mention the word: cash. Who’s gonna pay? Look in the mirror.
As of Jan. 27, that order had not been communicated to the Cape May County Engineer’s Office, according to County Engineer Dale Foster. One would imagine that something deemed so life-threatening would be be sent via email, or failing that, at least by U.S. express mail, to get inspections underway yesterday or sooner. Don’t forget, this is New Jersey. Foster noted that his office sends monthly reports to Trenton on the state of bridges. Is there a pile of reports on a desk in Trenton? Pity the soul who must review those monthly reports of the state’s bridges. It’s steady work if nothing more.
Foster also reported to freeholders Jan. 27 that, because of the state being cash strapped, after June 30, new money that flows into the Transportation Trust Fund will be used to pay interest and principal on the huge debt.
Foster said that might mean the county having to scrounge around for maybe $2.65 million that used to come from state funds for road and bridge improvements.
The federal Transportation Fund is similarly down to pennies, so, dear heart, the outlook isn’t bright. Why fret? Isn’t it all free anyway? Free college, free lunch, free phones, who needs money?
Maybe we ought to look seriously into a barter system since there is no more money.