It has been no secret that infrastructure is a pressing need throughout Pennsylvania. In a state with as many bridges and roadways as our commonwealth, there are bound to be some that are in deteriorating condition bad enough to warrant closure.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for a bridge that recently collapsed in Pittsburgh. It had been recently inspected and, according to an Associated Press report, was weight-restricted, but not closed.

Thankfully no one was killed, but it should serve as a reminder of why keeping up on maintenance of our vital infrastructure is important.

Mifflin County has begun charging an annual $5 fee charged to vehicle registrations to help townships and boroughs in the county pay for bridge replacements and repairs they might not otherwise be able to afford. And while we know there were plenty of people who bemoaned another tax being charged to them, this is one that is beneficial to anyone who drives in the county.

Infrastructure is one of those things we take for granted until something bad happens to it.

We are glad to see that we have local officials who have made it a priority before someone is maimed or killed by driving on a bridge or highway that should have been repaired or replaced years ago.

Many of our tax dollars are not well-spent. The money that goes to making it safe for us to move about our county could not be better-spent.

We hope similar programs will spring up throughout Pennsylvania where they do not already exist so that what happened in Pittsburgh does not repeat itself elsewhere.