Obama's 'Fix it First' Program Highlights Failing Bridges in U.S., Evanston

President Barack Obama proposed Tuesday night a "Fix It First" program to address the nation's crumbling infrastructure—like roads and bridges—in an effort to improve citizens' quality of life and bring jobs to the United States.

There are nearly 70,000 "structurally deficit" bridges throughout the United States that require "significant maintenance, rehabilitation or replacement," according to the Transportation for America website. 

In Illinois, 8.5 percent of the state's bridges are "structurally deficit." The state is ranked 35th worst nationally for the overall quality of its bridges, according to the Transportation for America website. 

Locally, there are a handful of bridges that are highlighted as structurally deficit on the Transportation for America website.

Below is information on some of those bridges: 

Evanston

• The Bridge Street bridge near McCormick Boulevard that crosses the sanitary canal. Built in 1908, the bridge was last inspected in February 2009. About 300 cars travel over it daily.
• The Lincoln Street bridge near Orrington Street that crosses the sanitary canal. Built in 1908, the bridge was last inspected in February 2009. About 1,000 cars travel over it daily.

Skokie

• The Touhy Avenue bridge that crosses Route I-94. Built in 1950, the bridge was last inspected in January 2010. About 43,800 cars travel over it daily.

Wilmette/Winnetka

• The Happ Road bridge near New Trier High School and Loyola Academy that crosses the Skokie River. Built in 1924 the bridge was last inspected in October 2008. About 3,650 cars travel over it daily. 
• The Winnetka Road bridge near Happ Road that crosses Route I-94 and US 41. Built in 1948 the bridge was last inspected in December 2009. About 8,600 cars travel over it daily. 
• The Willow Road bridge near Old Willow Road. Built in 1941, the bridge was last inspected in July 2009. About 24,700 cars travel over it daily. 

Glenview/Northbrook

• The Willow Road bridge near Cardinal Road. Built in 1942, the bridge was last inspected in February 2009. About 35,000 cars travel over it daily. 
• The Shermer Road bridge near Meadow Shopping Plaza. Built in 1923, the bridge was last inspected in February 2010. About 7,100 cars travel over it daily. 
• The Lake Cook Road bridge near N. Pfingsten Road. Built in 1929, the bridge was last inspected in October 2008. About 35,000 cars travel over it daily. 
• The I-94 westbound bridge near Skokie Boulevard. Built in 1958, the bridge was last inspected in August 2008. About 21,000 cars travel over it daily. 
• The Clavey Road bridge near the Skokie River. Built in 1950, the bridge was last inspected in December 2006. About 8,400 cars travel over it daily.

Tell us in the comments' section: Which bridges and roads do you think NEED to be fixed in the area? 

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