Lawmakers urge Rell for more money to fix bridges

State leaders are urging Gov. Jodi Rell to give the transportation committee more money to fix ailing bridges after the collapse of a Minneapolis bridge resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.
State Senators Bill Finch (D-Bridgeport) and Dan Debicella (R-Stratford) worry that southwestern Connecticut could fall victim to a similar tragedy. ?We have to spend more money fixing our infrastructure. We have lots of rivers we have to traverse,? Finch said.
The Federal Highway Administration reports that 8 percent of the bridges in the state are ?structurally deficient.? Senators are urging diligence in keeping up with bridge repairs, but say the state needs more money to do so.
The Moses Wheeler Bridge, which carries I-95 from Stratford to Milford, has caused concern in recent months. Crews are performing emergency repairs on it and Debicella says a $250 million repair project is set to get underway next year.
Finch says other bridges, such as the Q Bridge in New Haven, are also cause for concern.
Additional coverage of the Minnesota bridge collapse:President Bush comments on the Minnesota bridge collapseCNN/CNN affiliate coverage of Minnesota bridge collapseFootage of Minnesota bridge collapse ? Courtesy of CNNFootage of bridge collapse aftermath