Alaska's Congressman Gets Federal Highway Money

[Algorem]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5059748,00.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - ...

Three of those projects, totaling $223 million, are for the Gravina Bridge linking Ketchikan, a town of 8,000, to Gravina Island, home to the town's airport and about 50 people. Critics say it is an extravagant expense to replace what is now a seven-minute ferry ride to the airport. Young said road access to the island is essential for continued growth.

The House bill also contains $200 million for the Knik Arm Bridge linking Anchorage to the largely undeveloped Port MacKenzie area of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the fastest growing region in the state. Opponents describe Port MacKenzie as little more than a mosquito-filled wetland, although it is popular with recreational snowmobilers and fishermen. Here, too, Young says the bridge is important because Anchorage is running out of land for expansion.

The environmental groups who say the projects benefit private developers more than the Alaskan populace have things ``totally backward, so I don't pay much attention to them,'' Young said...

That's an issue in another controversial project, $15 million to start a road linking Juneau and the tourist destination of Skagway, through the Tongass National Forest...

[liberal N proud]

1. That is only 4.66 million per resident of Gravina Island

Pocket change to people like Young, His lobbyist probably paid him that much for the oil in ANWAR.
:sarcasm: