Complex sentence: It received nationwide attention as a symbol of pork-barrel spending, and since Gravina Island only had a population of 50 the bridge became known as the "Bridge to Nowhere" during the run-up to the 2008 presidential election.
Split into simpler sentences: It received nationwide attention as a symbol of pork-barrel spending. Since Gravina Island only had a population of 50, the bridge became known as the "Bridge to Nowhere" during the run-up to the 2008 presidential election.