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

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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 deficient" 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 deficient." 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 deficient on the Transportation for America website. Below is information on some of those bridges, which are located within 10 miles of Arlington Heights: 

• The bridge on Illinois 53 Frontage Road over Salt Creek in Cook County. The bridge was built in 1962 and 2,760 cars travel it each day. 
• A bridge on Route 62 over the Salt Creek in Cook County. The bridge was built in 1900 and 33,600 cars travel it daily. 
• The bridge over Wolf Road at Palatine Road in Wheeling. The bridge is slated for replacement, according to the Illinois DOT website. The bridge was built in 1963 and 21,100 cars travel it daily. 
• The bridge on Palatine Road over the Des Plaines River in Des Plaines. The bridge was built in 1965 and 5,100 cars travel it each day. 
• The bridge at Illinois 21 over the Des Plaines River in Cook County. The bridge was built in 1927 and 23,300 cars travel it daily. 
• The bridge on Illinois 90 westbound over Route 62 (Oakton Street) in Cook County. The bridge was built in 1958. Around 64,500 cars travel it daily. 
• Tell us in the comments' section: Which bridges and roads do you think NEED to be fixed in the area?