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

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: 

• 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.
• 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.

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