Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) traveled to Memphis on Thursday to tour the damaged I-40 bridge and met with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to discuss infrastructure spending to meet the logistical needs of Tennessee.
“The I-40 bridge closure affects not only Memphis and the Mid-South region, it affects the entire nation. I-40 is a coast-to-coast federal interstate highway crossing our nation from North Carolina to California,” Blackburn described in a statement. “This bridge situation deserves to have the full and immediate attention of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Biden administration.”
The closure of the I-40 bridge will soon enter its second month. In early May, a routine inspection conducted by a contractor with the Arkansas Department of Transportation found structural damage in one of the beams in the bridge.
The bridge repair has caused headaches among businesses and travelers across the region. All traffic has been diverted to cross the Mississippi River into Arkansas using Interstate 55.
To discuss the evolving situation, Blackburn hosted a roundtable discussion with Buttigieg, Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), and industry leaders in the area. According to Blackburn’s statement, the conversation focused on the importance of fixing the I-40 bridge in addition to roads and bridges across the country.
Blackburn also called for “targeted” infrastructure. The current plan laid out by the Biden administration encourages spending trillions of dollars in areas not traditionally labeled as “infrastructure.” The proposal allows billions to go to child care and healthcare assistance for the elderly. A small percent of the plan distributes money to repair roads and bridges.
No specific timetable has been detailed for the repairs of the bridge. The chief engineer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation said, “it’s plausible this could take months rather than weeks.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Sen. Marsha Blackburn” by Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
While she’s at it, have her also demand more expenditures for mass transit, especially for commuter rail, so as to take a burden off our already congested Interstate highways. By removing excessive congestion on our Interstates, she will save the highways lots of wear and tear, reduce gridlock, and reduce the number of accidents that result from both speed, gridlock, and road rage. We need a more balanced land and water transport system in Tennessee for both passengers and freight. Tennessee’s over dependence on the private, often single-occupancy vehicle, will be the death of this state yet. Gridlock land transportation will discourage new businesses from wanting to set up shop in our state.
Yep. Just what we taxpayers need to foot the bill for – Empty buses and toy trains.
Marsha Blackburn is part of the swamp, she needs to go!
Does she? That’s terrific, doesn’t change the fact that Marsha “One Bill” Blackburn is a do nothing. Hopefully Carol Swain or someone primaries this pariah. Oh BTW, loving your waste of money commercials Marsha. #VotetheBumsOut!