This article or section contains information about a planned or proposed future bridge. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the bridge approaches, and more information becomes available on it.

The Gravina Island Bridge is a proposed $315 million bridge to replace the ferry that currently connects Ketchikan, Alaska (population 8,000) to developable land on Gravina Island and improve access to Ketchikan International Airport. The bridge would replace a 7-minute ferry ride from Ketchikan to its airport ^[1]. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Image File history File links Bridge_drawing. ... A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... Ketchikan (IPA: ) is the fifth-largest city in terms of population in the U.S. state of Alaska. ... Map showing location of Gravina Island Gravina Island is an island in the Gravina Islands of the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska, at . ... Ketchikan International Airport (IATA: KTN, ICAO: PAKT) is a public airport located on Gravina Island, just west of Ketchikan, Alaska on the other side of the Tongass Narrows. ...

The project has been met with fierce opposition and has been labeled the "Bridge to Nowhere." ^[2] It has been cited by Senator John McCain of Arizona as an example of pork-barrel spending in the 2005 Transportation Equity Act. This $223 million federal contribution to the bridge would cost approximately $15,849 per person in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough (pop. 14,070) if the costs were split between them. Opponents have noted that the federal contribution represents $4.5 million for each of Gravina Island's 50 residents. The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936) is the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona, having served since 1987. ... It has been suggested that Arizona Governors Mansion be merged into this article or section. ... Pork barrel, in a literal sense, is a barrel in which pork is kept, but figuratively is a supply of money; often the source of ones livelihood. ... The Transportation Equity Act of 2005 (known by its full title as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users or SAFETEA-LU) is a piece of United States legislation that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 10, 2005. ...

Media coverage of the bridge issue has focused on the secondary purpose put forward by the State of Alaska's official documentation, that of providing road access to the Ketchikan International Airport and has called into question the document's declared primary purpose -- to provide access to developable lands on Gravina Island.^[3] The city of Ketchikan has already begun to develop roads and a small amount of infrastructure for the island's inhabitants. Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Ketchikan International Airport (IATA: KTN, ICAO: PAKT) is a public airport located on Gravina Island, just west of Ketchikan, Alaska on the other side of the Tongass Narrows. ...

The non-partisan Americans for Prosperity Foundation has posted a video on YouTube.com that was recorded during an August 2006 "Ending Earmarks Express" visit to Alaska. The video was shot on the ferry that currently connects Ketchikan to Gravina Island and aims to illustrate how unnecessary the proposed bridge is. The Alaska Department of Transportation defends the project, however, saying that the state's congressional delegation believes Alaska's infrastructure improvements benefit the entire nation ^[4]. YouTube. ...

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens became the object of strong media criticism when in October 2005 he opposed diverting the Gravina and Knik Arm Bridge funds to help aid recovery from Hurricane Katrina. In his speech on the senate floor, Stevens threatened to quit Congress if the funds were removed from his state. ^[5] Theodore Fulton Ted Stevens (born November 18, 1923) is a United States Senator from Alaska. ... The Knik Arm Bridge is the name of a proposed bridge to cross the Knik Arm portion of Cook Inlet, north of Anchorage, Alaska. ... Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa; 26. ...

Republicans in Congress dropped the specific allocation for the two bridges, but the amount of money appropriated to Alaska remains unchanged. Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski plans to fully fund both bridges: "I am proposing we spend the maximum allowed." GOP redirects here. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate Dick Cheney, R, since January 20, 2001 Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R, since January 6, 1999 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups (as of January 4, 2005 elections) Democratic Party Republican Party... Francis Hughes Murkowski (born March 28, 1933) is a Polish-American politician who is the current Governor of Alaska and a member of the Republican Party. ...

A ferry runs to the island every 30 minutes, but service is often interrupted by bad weather and other boat traffic^{[citation needed]}. According to USA Today the bridge will be nearly as long as the Golden Gate Bridge and higher than the Brooklyn Bridge.^[6] Ketchikan's primary industry is tourism, so the bridge must be tall enough to accommodate the cruise ships which frequent the Alaskan waters during the summer. USA Today is a national American newspaper published by the Gannett Corporation. ... The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening into the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. ... For other uses, see Brooklyn Bridge (disambiguation). ...

References

2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... PDF is an abbreviation with several meanings: Portable Document Format Post-doctoral fellowship Probability density function There also is an electronic design automation company named PDF Solutions. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... Screenshot of Salon. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... The daily Seattle Times is the leading newspaper in Seattle, Washington, United States. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... The Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper in Anchorage, Alaska. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... USA Today is a national American newspaper published by the Gannett Corporation. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ...

External links

• Alaska DOT Official site
• Taxpayers for Common Sense (opposition)
• TollRoads.com

• Ketchikan on Google Maps
• $220 Million+ For A Bridge To An Island With 50 People?!? -- on Plastic.com