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Obama's 'Fix it First' Program Would Mend 'Deficient' Hill Avenue Bridge

In his 2013 State of the Union Address Tuesday, President Barack Obama touched on immigration policy, gun control and the economy, among other national issues. In terms of infrastructure, he proposed a "Fix it First" plan that may affect Glen Ellyn.

 

President Barack Obama proposed Tuesday night what he called a "Fix It First" program to address the nation's crumbling infrastructure—like roads and bridges—in an effort to improve citizens' quality of life and bring jobs to the United States.

"I propose a 'Fix-It-First' program to put people to work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs, like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country," he said during the State of the Union Address.

"And to make sure taxpayers don’t shoulder the whole burden, I’m also proposing a Partnership to Rebuild America that attracts private capital to upgrade what our businesses need most—modern ports to move goods; modern pipelines to withstand a storm; modern schools worthy of our children."

Many of the structurally deficient bridges Obama referred to are located throughout the Chicago area, according to Transportation for America. The organization's campaign says coordinators are "eager to reform how we spend transportation dollars at the federal, state and local level to create a safer, cleaner and smarter transportation system that works for everyone."

One bridge in Glen Ellynthe Hill Avenue bridge, which crosses the East Branch of the DuPage River is categorized as "deficient"

Transportation for America Data indicates that an average of 4,600 cars use the bridge daily. 

Overall, Illinois ranks 35th in the country when it comes to inadequate bridges with about 8.5 percent of all its bridges rated as such.

That may change if Obama has anything to say about it.

"Let’s prove that there is no better place to do business than the United States of America," he said Tuesday. "And let’s start right away."

    Related Topics: Fix-It-First, Hill Avenue Bridge, President Obama, and state of the union address

    Dan Smith, Jr.

    11:02 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

    Wait a second....Glen Ellyn had their arm twisted by Lombard to help with the repairs of this bridge....are you saying work has stopped on it?

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    Mary Ann Lopez

    11:08 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

    I will check on it Dan. It's on the list and I wasn't aware of any work being done, nor is it specified, if you view that document.

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    Mary Ann Lopez

    3:28 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

    Lombard is leading the project, which is still in the planning stages, but work has yet to commence. Glen Ellyn is helping to fund it.

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    Dan Smith, Jr.

    9:17 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013

    Thanks, didn't know if you knew the back story where lombard threatened to close the bridge if GE didn't agree to share some costs.

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