'Fix it First' Program Could Mend 'Deficient' Port, Saukville 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.

The Port Washington and Saukville area has one bridge that is structurally deficient bridge,  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."

The bridge LRD Highland Avenue, which crosses IH 43-STH 32-STH 57, is considered tructurally deficient. Data indicates that 2,100 cars use the 46 year old bridge daily.

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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