Study: NJ bridges falling into disrepair

New Jersey?s bridges are falling into disrepair and it will cost a fortune to fix them, according to a New Jersey Department of Transportation study released Tuesday. Governor Jon Corzine ordered a study

News 12 Staff

Oct 2, 2007, 10:57 PM

Updated 6,189 days ago

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New Jersey?s bridges are falling into disrepair and it will cost a fortune to fix them, according to a New Jersey Department of Transportation study released Tuesday.
Governor Jon Corzine ordered a study of all of the state?s bridges after the Minneapolis bridge collapse over the summer. Of the 6,447 bridges in New Jersey, the study determined 981 state-owned bridges and 795 local bridges are structurally deficient.
The study found no bridges in danger of falling down, but determined it will cost more than $13 billion to fix them over the next 10 years. More than two-thirds of that cost would be the state?s responsibility. Since the state transportation trust fund runs out in three years, Corzine says he plans to announce a finance plan within a month.
Corzine says he would not rule out an increase in the gas tax to fix the bridges. The transportation commissioner says the cost of bridge repairs on toll roads could drive up the cost of tolls.