Covered Bridges May Fall Prey to Cutbacks

 

March 10, 2011 - Nostalgia is a luxury few communities or the federal government can afford these days. President Barack Obama's budget proposal for 2012 would eliminate 55 Department of Transportation programs, including the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program.

The program provides about $8 million a year in grants to repair or rehabilitate a dozen or so covered bridges, an infinitesimal portion of the $3.8 trillion federal budget.

Transportation Department officials said communities still would be able to apply for grants for covered bridge projects, but they would have to compete with other highway and bridge projects for funds.

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