[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 26, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E295-E296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO BUILD A NEW BRIDGE NEAR FOLSOM DAM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DOUG OSE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 2003

  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, in the 1950s a new artery opened that has 
helped alleviate traffic in the booming Sacramento region for close to 
half a century: the Folsom Dam Road.
  Built to provide both flood protection and water reserves, a road 
also runs across the top of the Folsom Dam, thus providing better 
access to the growing communities in Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado 
Counties.
  In recent years I have often argued that the growth in the region 
demands a new, bigger

[[Page E296]]

bridge to handle the more than 18,000 commuters who traveled across the 
dam each day.
  In addition to the congestion on the narrow dam road, I argued that 
in the wake of the September I I attacks, providing an alternative to 
traffic became a security risk as well. With the dam so close to 
Sacramento, the access to the dam was a tempting target to terrorists 
who might want to attack my hometown and community. Security was 
increased at the dam--the only facility in the nation with a public 
road running across it besides the Hoover Dam, and the only one 
adjacent to a heavily populated area. But many of us still had 
concerns.
  Last week, the Department of the Interior through the Bureau of 
Reclamation--which runs the dam--came to the same conclusion: allowing 
traffic on the dam is too dangerous. Last Thursday they announced the 
closure of the dam road to all vehicle and foot traffic, effective this 
Friday, February 28, 2003. Said a spokesman for the bureau, ``In order 
to protect the facility and the 900,000 people below it, we have 
decided to take this step.''
  Unfortunately, there is still no new bridge to provide an alternative 
to the tens of thousands in the region who used the bridge as their 
avenue through the area. Those of us who live and commute in the area 
have less than a week to adjust our patterns.
  Last year, my colleague Representative John Doolitte and I introduced 
legislation to build a new bridge. This bill passed the House Resources 
Committee. Today, Representative Doolittle and I reintroduce this 
language with even greater necessity. The Bureau of Reclamation 
unilaterally decided to close the road. But they provided no 
alternative. They have assured me that they support an effort to 
provide an alternative and restore a method for crossing the region in 
the form of this new bridge. Chairman Pombo has already indicated that 
he will give this bill its proper consideration.
  I urge my colleagues in the House to join me in supporting the effort 
to provide a safe and secure way for all those traveling in the 
Sacramento region--home to an international port, airport and two 
interstate highways--to continue to cross through this beautiful and 
productive region by passing this legislation and building a bridge to 
replace the Folsom Dam Road.

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