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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

ND Bridges Breaking Down: 7th Highest Percentage Needing Repair

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Wednesday, April 8, 2015   

BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota has the seventh-highest percentage in the nation of bridges that are in need of major repairs or upgrades, according to a new report.

The analysis by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association found that more than 16 percent of North Dakota's bridges, numbering more than 700, are structurally deficient. The group's chief economist, Alison Black, pointed to the oil boom for the building pressure.

"In North Dakota, one of the challenges overall certainly has been some of the developments there in terms of energy work," she said. "We know there's a lot of traffic on those bridges that is helping to accelerate perhaps some of the wear and tear that we see."

Black said a bridge is classified as structurally deficient if one of its key structural elements - such as the deck, superstructure or substructure - is rated in poor condition or worse.

Part of the problem with aging bridges in North Dakota and nationwide is the lack of available funding, Black said. The federal Highway Trust Fund has suffered five revenue shortfalls between 2008 and 2014, she said, and without congressional action the latest extension of funds will expire on May 31.

"The issue," she said, "is that there's a lack of political will in Congress to pass some sort of long-term sustainable increase in revenue and to solve the situation with the Highway Trust Fund."

Nationwide, according to the report, about 61,000 bridges are considered structurally compromised. Many of those are on Interstate highways, which carry the bulk of truck traffic and passenger vehicles.

The report is online at slideshare.net.


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