As the state celebrates the anniversary of the opening of the Mackinac
Bridge, it should also put some focus on the condition of the rest of the
bridges in the state, the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation
Association said this week.

The group noted that some 200 bridges are on the state's critical bridge
list and The Road Information Program, a Washington, D.C.-based highway
funding study group, ranked the state in the bottom 10 of states for the
condition of its bridges.

"We all recognize the Mackinac Bridge as one of the world's great
engineering marvels and as a well-recognized icon of our state," said Mike
Nystrom, vice-president of government and public relations for MITA.
"Unfortunately, crumbling bridges and deteriorated roads are fast becoming
another far less flattering symbol of our state."

MITA and other groups are pushing for a state fuel tax increase as well as a
vehicle registration fee increases to pay for bridge and highway work. The
group estimates $100 million of the money raised could repair 200 bridges or
rebuild up to 80 bridges.