"We Are Hopeful That The State Will Fulfill Its Funding Commitment"

The At Issue show on WBBM 780 interviewed CDOT commissioner Rebecca Scheinfeld on March 12 about the structurally deficient viaducts at Wilson and Lawrence, among other issues.

She said that both Lawrence and Wilson are scheduled to be overhauled this year, but she also cast doubt about whether or not the State is willing to come up with its share of the money for the repairs. In Commissioner Scheinfeld's words, "these dollars are there" and have already been earmarked for the viaducts, but given the financial stalemate in Springfield, there is doubt the money will be distributed.

Looking at it purely from a financial aspect, if there is a wrongful death or injury caused by the chunks of concrete that regularly fall from the bridges, the city and state will both have legal liability. The settlement payments will undoubtedly cost taxpayers more than the price of fixing the bridges. And the bridges will be still have to be fixed after that.

On all levels -- compassionate, financial, civic responsibility -- allowing these bridges to remain in their structurally deficient condition is a very short-sighted decision.

If you'd like to listen, the discussion of the bridges starts at about the 5:30 mark.