In Tenn., Rebuilding Bridges - And Hope

(CBS)  In rural west Tennessee, Ford Construction Company is replacing three rickety wooden bridges. They re-hired laid off workers to do it, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

"I would like to see all our crews working on jobs," said Sam Baggett of Ford Construction.

This job means Robin Patterson is off unemployment for the first time since November.

"It was a lot of relief going from $60 a week to $500 or 600 a week is dramatic," Patterson said.

Patterson and his wife Tiffani almost lost their house -- and their marriage.

"We split up three times," Tiffani Patterson said. "And when he started back to work, it's like everything changed."

What changed was federal stimulus money. Tennessee received $572 million just for bridge and road projects - saving or creating 24,000 jobs.

This almost $1 million project alone put 157 people back on the job.

Tennessee has 95 counties. And by July, its stimulus money will put people to work in almost all of them.

The bridge project also gives business to 13 subcontractors and suppliers - like Williams Equipment and Supply.

"You still need more good things to happen?" Strassmann asked.

"That's right. This needs a snowball effect," said Rodney McClellan of Williams Equipment and Supply.

But it's a start - this project to rebuild bridges and hope.

[phonegirl300]

There is a bridge between Clay Co. Tn. and Jackson Co. Tn. that is serious need of repair. In that area the average rate of pay is $13,000 per year. Do you think that any of those people will get any of those jobs? NO!

Our Governer Bredison has done nothing to help that area or those people.

[realnews12]

Just wait when you get the bill for this kind stupidity.

Posted by wardoglrs at 5:34 PM : Apr 29, 2009

So you'd rather leave bridges and roads unrepaired so that people are killed using them ? Gee, that sounds smart.

[vetsence]

The government must regulate the economy. The Republicons sure haven't.

[WITHINMEANS]

Just wait when you get the bill for this kind stupidity.
Posted by wardoglrs at 5:34 PM : Apr 29, 2009

You have a better idea? New roads and bridges creating even short term employment is better than complaints and nothing done at all.

Quit whining and become part of the solution!

[hatesthecolt]

Sounds good for now but what are these workers going to be doing for steady work once that bridge has been rebuilt and that roads has been paved?
Posted by dkhorse11

The theory is that these individuals will have money to spend which will open up production and sales jobs putting others back to work. They will pay taxes that can go into more construction or improvements for these guys to work on, or they will decide to do projects or renovations on homes or new construction that these guys can work on. We needed something to start the cycle going.

[bbpkr]

My original Home-county in south Middle Tennessee, Lewis, presently has an official 16 % Unemployment . Perry County, bordering Lewis to the west, is even more hard-hit, suffering from reportedly 20%+ Unemployment, one of the highest-Unemployment counties in the U.S.
The Stimulus is providing Much-needed Relief.

[dkhorse11]

Sounds good for now but what are these workers going to be doing for steady work once that bridge has been rebuilt and that roads has been paved?

[wardoglrs]

Just wait when you get the bill for this kind stupidity.

[debinok1]

Nice to see some good news in the midst of all the gloom. Maybe we will start seeing more of these stories.