A historic stone arch bridge that received more than $150,000 in federal stimulus funds this year has fallen short of some people’s expectations — mainly because it doesn’t go anywhere.
The bridge, which dates back to the 1860s, ends in a sheer, 8-foot drop after it crosses the Contoocook River. Traffic no longer crosses the span, which parallels a modern bridge near the intersection of Routes 202 and 149.
According to Recovery.gov, the government website that tracks spending through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the town of Hillsborough received $150,045 in stimulus funding to repair the bridge.
A project description on the ARRA website explains that the project was intended to preserve and resurface the bridge to “better accommodate pedestrians and bicycles.” The website also claims that the project created 1.90 jobs, including laborers and equipment operators. Given that the bridge does not connect to any existing roads, some have begun to question the span’s usefulness to bicyclists and pedestrians, and whether federal tax dollars could have gone to better use.
Click to view image: 'ff84213c3690-812bridge.jpg'
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Nice location, goes very well with the adjacent gas station.
Wow, 1.90 jobs were created, another winning project brought to you as part of obama's "economic recovery".
Source:http://www.recovery.gov/Transparency/RecipientReportedData/Pages/RecipientProjectSummary508.aspx?AwardIDSUR=15714&AwardType=Grants
Another minor detail:
The project also received a Transportation Enhancement grant of $88,000, only 20% of which comes from a local match. That means that local taxpayers, who More..
Posted Aug-21-2010 Bywozzoo (145.74) wozzoo Send Message
(5)
I think the gas station came after the bridge.
Maybe they should just tear down this 150 year old bridge so it doesn't ruin the view of the gas station?
Posted Aug-21-2010 Bytoo_much_noise (521.74) 
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(-5)
why the hell does the federal gov. need to repair that run down bridges... OH yeah, because of more votes for Obi right!
Posted Aug-21-2010 Byhcruz773 (98.24) hcruz773 Send Message
(3)
Your grasp of the obvious is breathtaking (well, not really). Since the bridge serves no purpose as part of a transportation system, it is simply a monument. It can not generate revenue nor provide ongoing employment.
Since it is a monument, perhaps the location, in proximity to a gas station forecourt, should have brought into question the suitability of investing substantial stimulus funds to enhance it, in the first place.
The per capita cost of the project, yielding temporary employment More..
Posted Aug-21-2010 Bywozzoo (145.74) wozzoo Send Message
(3)
Your tactful navgation of taking down that lib will leave smoke coming out of his ears. Not from anger, but from too much logic crossing his wires and causing a short. And you are correct, this is epic and grand waste of the highest order and is only 1 case of the biggest scam ever on the American tax payer.
Posted Aug-21-2010 Byyorba (1021.58) yorba View Channel Send Message
(4)
Would create 1.90 jobs? I s that nearly two jobs that they mean? LoLs
The Bridge to Nowhere looks like a great spot to smoke a joint !
IMHO
Posted Aug-21-2010 ByDonovan301 (979.38) 
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(3)
They would had been better off give those 2 people unemployment for 2 years, instead of spending 150K...
hell, 150K could had given 10 people unemployment for nearly 1 year
Posted Aug-21-2010 Byhcruz773 (98.24) hcruz773 Send Message
(3)
More Demorat business funding mafia run construction contract for some union
Posted Aug-21-2010 Byhcruz773 (98.24) hcruz773 Send Message
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Of course some get it and most who work for others dont. It would be one thing to spend money on projects that demanded so much labor that NEW companies would spring up, take on a new tax id number, buy a few trucks, machines, rent a commercial property, hire a desk job and 3 laborers who we're paid on the books and received 1099 or 1040 BUT no that's not what has happen. No new companies we raised out of the ground with this money, the same old union jobs we're merely extended for 6-12 more mon More..
Posted Aug-21-2010 Bysinglelife (838.62) singlelife View Channel Send Message
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What part of "historic restoration" is an alien concept to you?
Posted Aug-21-2010 Bytoo_much_noise (521.74) 
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Yeah, that's how it is in those rural towns of 5000 people in New Hampshire...the mob is everywhere.
Dolt.
Posted Aug-21-2010 Bytoo_much_noise (521.74) 
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(-5)
what part of kiss my ass dont you understand... You honestly think the 1.9 regular Joes split the 150K... Those are all Union jobs. Last time I checked, that more than likely means Corruption--- Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley Style of Corruption
Posted Aug-21-2010 Byhcruz773 (98.24) hcruz773 Send Message
(6)
And now we'll have to pay interest to China for it
un funking believable!
Posted Aug-21-2010 ByDELTABUD (24.98) 
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(2)
as above
Posted Aug-21-2010 BySection_1070 (72.40) Section_1070 Send Message
(1)
Two stonemasons flipped a coin to figure out who would get is feet amputated to make 1.90 workers.
Posted Aug-21-2010 Byjohn731863 (512.12) 
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(0)
Better to spend dollars on a bridge that leads nowere, then on weapons that lead to hell.
Posted Aug-21-2010 Byronaldo_popkings (434.96) ronaldo_popkings View Channel Send Message
(-2)
150000 for a bridge project is chump change. If that bridge is in the picture is the bridge in the story anybody who does construction or engineering could see that it would take a minimum of a million to span that thing.
Posted Aug-21-2010 ByFlash_Back (652.16) Flash_Back View Channel Send Message
(-2)
Most of these projects only got partial funding from the Feds. It isn't clear to me whether it was understood from the start that it would be partial funding for a state project or if it was miscalculated from the start. I remmeber reading someplace that the now famous "turtle tunnel" in Florida actually costs three times what the stimulus bill provided for it.
Posted Aug-21-2010 Byjohn731863 (512.12) 
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(2)
It was already built and required restoration, which is all well and good. I do not believe anyone is questioning the cost of stonework.
The problem is that they used stimulus money, meant for the exclusive purpose of creating unemployment.
The objection is that the amount of money spent, succeeded in providing employment for less than two people, for whatever short time period was involved for the project.
Posted Aug-21-2010 Bywozzoo (145.74) wozzoo Send Message
(1)
Ever since the original bridge embarassment in Alaska, they've been dying to look for a way to turn it around on the folks that called em on it... this is only one of "_____ to nowhere" projects that conservatives have tried to attach the label to
Posted Aug-21-2010 ByNurb (1005.92) 
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Obviously something happened that prevented the brige from being built. Your trying to act like it was built like that on purpose. Just more examples of right wing propaganda.
Posted Aug-21-2010 ByGmike (487.64) 
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To be nick named Palins bridge
Posted Aug-21-2010 ByTyrfingr (540.46) 
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