Bustos says the short term fixes don’t allow for plans for long term construction projects, such as the I-74 bridge.
Bustos tells WGIL that in Knox County alone, there are over 50 bridges that are not up to the standards they should be.
“Just in Knox County alone there are 308 bridges and of those there are 51 that are actually classified as being structurally deficient, meaning they need new iron work or new concrete work,” says Bustos. “Ten of those are considered what’s called functionally obsolete, meaning they were built for a certain number of cars to go over those and a certain weight limit and they’re no longer able to accommodate those.”
Bustos wrote a letter to House leaders that proposes a “Queen of the Hill” rule that would allow House members to vote on various long-term funding options.
Representatives Peter Welch and Reid Ribble stood by her during a press conference about a week ago and so far 10 members of congress have signed on to the letter.
Bustos is currently supporting a bill that would provide funding for the Federal Highway Program for six years.