Let's mandate speed limits for highway corrosion

Since the collapse of Minnesota’s I-35W bridge, I’ve read and heard a lot about privatizing our roads and highways. This should NOT be the issue. Privatization might solve a short-term budget crunch for some states, but there are no guarantees a private company will properly maintain or repair troubled structures.

What’s really needed to keep our roads safe is the same type of congressional legislation that privately-owned pipeline companies must adhere to. The Pipeline Safety Act requires pipeline owners to use cathodic protection as a corrosion control method.

The government requires the same technology for military steam lines and NASA structures. Why wouldn’t the government require a similar safeguard for our roads and bridges -- structures used by tens of millions of commuters every day?

It’s well known that our aging infrastructure is deteriorating at an ever-increasing pace. But instead of investing the estimated $30 billion annually it would take to replace infrastructure, let's be proactive.

We have the technology -- cathodic protection -- to stop corrosion before it starts. This can be used not only for all new structures, but to mitigate existing corrosion today. Better still, cathodic protection would cost the country far less than $30 billion a year, yet would deliver the same or better levels of protection as replacement.

Again, let's be proactive! If you have questions about cathodic protection and how it can mitigate corrosion and keep our families safe on the nation’s roads and highways, feel free to drop me a line. I’ll personally answer any and all questions.