'Fix it First' Program Could Mend 'Deficient' Sussex Area Bridges

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.

There are a number of structurally deficient bridges Obama referred to in the Sussex area, according to Transportation for America. 

"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," Obama 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."

Below are some of those bridges considered structually deficient that might affect Sussex drivers in Waukesha County:

• STH 190 WB, Crosses STH 74
• CTH X (GENESEE ROAD)
• CTH X (ST PAUL AVENUE)

Data indicates that over 20,000 cars daily use the bridges on St. Paul Avenue and Genesee Road. 

Some in nearby Milwaukee County:

• USH 41-APPLETON AVENUE
• STH 190-CAPITOL DRIVE

Over 36,000 cars use the bridge over Capitol Drive a day. 

See the accompanying map for a look at other deficient bridges, which are indicated in red.

Overall, Wisconsin ranks 37th in the country when it comes to inadequate bridges with about 8.2 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."

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