House votes to boost bridge spending, inspections

[July 25, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House has overwhelmingly passed legislation aimed at improving the safety of the nation's bridges, nearly a year after the deadly collapse of an Interstate highway bridge in Minneapolis.

The vote Thursday was 367-55.

The legislation would authorize an additional $1 billion next year to rebuild structurally deficient bridges on the national highway system, and require states to come up with plans to fix such bridges. The Minneapolis bridge on Interstate 35W was one of approximately 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country.

The White House has said it opposes the bill unless the $1 billion provision is deleted.

[Associated Press; By FREDERIC J. FROMMER]

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