Here is a downloadable counter that shows the amount of federal tax dollars spent in real time on Alaska’s OTHER "bridge to nowhere," the proposed Knik Arm Bridge. The bridge's more well-known cousin is the now-cancelled Gravina "bridge to nowhere" proposed for Ketchikan, Alaska.
Both bridges were pursued as a result of Congressional earmarks obtained by Alaska Senator Ted Stevens and Congressman Don Young (in fact, the federal transportation bill officially names the Knik Arm Bridge "Don Young's Way").
There's also a new, one-stop website for Alaska's current and past history with bridges and roads to nowhere, which includes some very interesting video links.
If built, the Knik Arm Bridge would link Anchorage to virtually unpopulated Point MacKenzie. The proposed bridge would not solve any commuting problems, however, since it would take longer and cost more for commuters from the Wasilla and Palmer population centers in the Mat-Su Borough to use the proposed toll bridge rather than the existing highway to Anchorage...
Additionally, any perceived congestion on the highway (to Alaskans, congestion means driving 50 mph rather than 65 mph) can be addressed far more cheaply with commuter rail along existing tracks, bus rapid transit, carpools and vanpools, prompt accident response, signs and web-posts notifying commuters of congestion, and better public transportation within Anchorage.
The proposed Knik Arm Bridge originally received $231 in earmarks from Congress in the federal transportation law in early 2005, subsequently removed by Congress in November 2005 after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made these earmarks untenable. After negotiating with Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska received the de-earmarked money for other transportation projects. The state allocated approximately $100 million in federal tax dollars to the Knik Arm Bridge, with nearly $42 million spent to date as the counter shows. Until this unnecessary and expensive bridge is cancelled (estimates show it costing over $1 billion), federal tax dollars will continue to be spent/wasted on the project.