Time to fix major bridges, highways

Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has proposed a $10 billion infrastructure plan, citing the recent and fatal bridge collapse in Minneapolis and the disaster in New Orleans as warning signs of tragedies to come.

The problem, and something that Auburn city residents understand all too well, is that addressing such issues requires a disruption of transportation. Especially in larger city areas where highways barely accommodate the number of travelers as is. Redirecting people en route is a surmountable obstacle only when there is an alternate detour available.

However, I believe Sen. Clinton is correct in that this is not an issue that the United States can continue to neglect. The infrastructure plan will require a re-evaluation and in some cases a rebuild of bridges and highways that have been in use for 50 years or more. We cannot continue to patch and jury-rig our nation.