The feds didn't build that. State and local governments "made that happen".
Everyone of those things are heavily subsidized by the federal government. plus you have user taxes issued by state and the public entities too. Ex. Charleston's lovely Arthur Ravenel bridge.
"Raising financial support for a new eight-lane bridge over the Cooper River was a struggle 20 years in the making, prolonged by the state's insistence that it could not afford such a bridge and by Charleston's reluctance to provide any funds for the project. Several proposals were made for a toll bridge, but the mayors of Charleston and Mount Pleasant objected. When officials revealed in 1995 that the Grace Bridge scored a 4 out of 100 for safety and integrity, retired U.S. Congressman Arthur Ravenel, Jr. ran for the South Carolina Senate with a goal of solving the funding problem. He helped to establish the S.C. Infrastructure Bank and worked with local, state, and federal officials to create partnerships that helped to materialize the final funding.
The State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) budgeted $325 million to accompany $96.6 million from the Federal Highway Administration. The project did not become a reality, however, until the SIB agreed to commit to a $215 million federal loan, provided that Charleston County would contribute $3 million a year for 25 years, including an 8.33% sales tax increase, to the federal loan, as well as yearly payments from the SCDOT and State Ports Authority. The overall price of the bridge totaled around $700 million" - wiki
This bridge now has a design life of over 100 years and can handle the capacity of population growth till 2105. Everybody working together makes it happen. This bridge replaced one that recieved a 4 out of 100 as a working bridge two lanes (built in 1920s) and a second 5 lane bridge built in 1969. It took 20 years of planning the financial decision. The bridge was a design-build project by the SCDOT along with a huge private consortium of engineers and completed under scheduled time, however they recieved bouses for completing it on time and under budget.
This bridge now allows for the largest of ships to enter Charleston harbor, which now requires deepening of the harbor's channel. Guess what. Our legislators are currently pandering to the federal government again in raising money to help fund the dredging operation, as well as an expansion of port terminals in the harbor ( Lindsay Graham and Jim DeMint BTW). It is estimated an additional 10,000 jobs in the area will be generated by this alone.
We all work together to get things done. Your tax dollars helped fund a bridge in my city which many of you may never use. Well, these thing happens all over the country but I don't bitch and moan about it because I know that the people of that community, area, state, or whatever will receive a benefit from it, and I indirectly also recieve a benefit from it as well to include more jobs, more imports, more inflow of economy to that area and thus to the federal government.
The state alone could not have done this. The City of Charleston and/or Mt. Pleasant alone could not have done this, and it was absolutely a necessary project for many reasons and was finished under budget and on time. It was so efficient tha the design as you can see in the picture incoprorated building the new bridge over a portion of the old bridge without having to demolish anything first. I also glady accept that 8.33% increase in the area sales tax to support this effort. It is a beautiful addition to our community as well as providing necessary and beneficial access to the area's resources and municpalities.
Just my input.
P.S. The remains of the old bridges (250,000 lbs of reinforced concrete) were dumped offshore to create a reef habitat for the local fisherman and 25,000 lbs of steel were recycled. The reef habitats are thriving now and provide excellent game fishing.
