Schumer urges highway fund extension

Sen. Charles Schumer said Wednesday that the backlog of state bridges in need of repair will only grow after Tropical Storm Irene, and urged Congress to quickly extend federal highway funding before it expires on Sept. 30.

He said the state would lose $3.3 million should funding lapse for key highway construction projects, including repairs of "structurally deficient" bridges.

Schumer (D-N.Y.), in a conference call with reporters, noted a 2009 Federal Highway Administration study found 2,088 "structurally deficient" bridges statewide, including eight in Suffolk and 13 in Nassau. "Before, the patient was in serious condition," Schumer said. But following Irene, "from the east to the west and up to the Canadian border, many are in intensive care and getting worse."

"Structurally deficient" bridges are not unsafe but are in need of repair or replacement due to of deteriorating load-bearing elements, inadequate capacity or because they cause traffic delays through repeated flooding. State transportation spokeswoman Eileen Peters said inspections after Irene found no new bridges on Long Island that fit the designation.

In the wake of the two-week shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration this summer, Schumer called on Congress to not include "controversial amendments and riders" in a transportation funding bill that provides money for repairing structurally deficient bridges.

Congress is at odds over the funding extension. The Republican-led House wants to reduce highway spending while leaders of the Democratic Senate propose to keep it stable.