In the midst of a long-term drought, the flooding of a former hurricane has taken out a bridge on eastbound Interstate 10 between Los Angeles and Phoenix, about 40 miles west of the Arizona state line. The westbound bridge still stands, but was compromised beyond safe use.
Caltrans reports that over 27,000 vehicles typically travel this route each day, including a significant number of long-haul trucks. No easy detour is available. Most trucks will add at least 80 miles one-way.
Transportation officials intend to strengthen and reopen the westbound bridge to two-way traffic within "weeks, not months".
On Friday J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported revenue-declines resulting in part from,"the lingering effects of disruptive shipping patterns due to the West coast port issues that plagued retailers at the beginning of the year." Closure of the I-10 will exacerbate the problems for Hunt and other transporters.
Meanwhile, Congress is struggling to resolve systemic and political issues related to the federal transportation bill. Mostly funded by gasoline taxes, funding has slipped as gasoline demand has fallen, "Unable to agree on another funding source, lawmakers have passed 34 short-term extensions since 2009 that have kept transportation programs teetering on the edge of insolvency."
The current funding program expires on July 31.
No comments:
Post a Comment