A web site paid for by the Alaska Democratic Party says unequivocally that the state of Alaska officially abandoned the Bridge to Nowhere project, and credits Governor Sarah Palin.

Or … it used to say that, before the page mysteriously vanished some time during the past few days.

Here’s the Google cache from September 4th: Retire Ted Stevens » Blog Archive » Ted Earmarked Funds for Bridge that Goes Nowhere.

And here’s the text that they consigned to the memory hole, because it’s embarrassingly off message:

Ted Earmarked Funds for Bridge that Goes Nowhere

* Stevens championed proposed bridge near Ketchikan that became national symbol of wasteful spending

* Sen. Murkowski’s family would benefit personally from the bridge

* State of Alaska killed bridge

The proposed Gravina Island Bridge, also known as the “Bridge to Nowhere,” became a national symbol of wasteful congressional spending and driver of earmark reform. On Sept. 21, 2007, the State of Alaska officially abandoned the controversial project.

The Gravina Island Bridge initially received $223 million in 2005 via earmarks by Alaska Senators Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski. The bridge would have connected Ketchikan, Alaska with its local airport on nearby Gravina Island (population 50). Congress stripped the earmark after a national uproar about it but appropriated the money anyway for unspecified transportation uses. Former Gov. Frank Murkowski’s administration set aside about $113 million of the appropriation for the Ketchikan bridge. However, Gov. Sarah Palin said the $398 million bridge was $329 million short of full funding, and only $36 million in federal funds were set aside for it. She said it was clear Congress had little interest in spending any more money for it and that the state had higher priorities.

UPDATE at 9/8/08 2:33:06 pm:

Now the Alaska Democratic Party has re-posted the page with a new address: Retire Ted Stevens » Gravina Bridge.

UPDATE at 9/8/08 2:35:15 pm: