April 5, 1987. A day that will live in infamy if you live in the Mohawk Valley. On that date, the Schoharie Creek Bridge on the Thruway collapsed killing 10 people after a spring noted for high floods and considerable snowmelt. And six days later a large section of the upstream Mill Point Bridge collapsed.
I’m remembering this because yesterday we witnessed President Biden sign a Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill which includes $40 billion of new funding for bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation, which is the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system.
The tragedies in April, 1987 would never have happened if this bill had been on the table at that time. And we can only guess at the number of bridges which are catastrophes waiting to happen which will now be saved by this landmark legislation.
Now listen up, readers and voters in the Mohawk Valley. Claudia Tenney, our Representative in the House VOTED AGAINST the Infrastructure Bill. And here is her rationale (a direct quote): “…there is so much in this Infrastructure bill about making sure that we’re talking about equity. We’re talking about racism in infrastructure…”
Vote her out in 2022.
Judy Jerome
New Hartford
