[at-l] Foot Bridge

[Carla & Dave Hicks]

To Felix:

I and many of the local trail maintaining club agree.  BTW -- there is also a 
local road underpass nearby that could also be used at a much lower cost.

IMHO, this bridge was the ego trip of a former ATC Regional Office honcho. 
Once he got the land for it condemned and taken away for the project, the ATC 
became "committed" to the project -- no matter how dumb.  IMHO another form of 
"commitment" would have been more appropriate.

To Martha and Jim:

I would be amazed if any non-recreational hikers and sight-seers use it, for 
many, many yeras -- if ever.  If you have access to a topo map program, of 
even google earth, check out the area.  You'll see very few buildings, or 
cultivated/developed land -- and some of those buildings were condemned under 
eminent domain by the NPS for the ATC and have been unoccupied for years.

Chainsaw

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Felix J" <athiker at smithville.net>
Cc: "AT-list" <at-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 7:52 AM
Subject: Re: [at-l] Foot Bridge


Martha and Jim wrote:
> Is anyone from that area?  Would the bridge be used by AT hikers only, or
> would it be used by other folks in the area to get from Pt. A to Pt. B?  The
> reason for the question is that there are a lot of bridges in the country
> across highways for local folks to use to get across safely.  And just like
> crosswalks and pedestrian signals, that would seem to be something that the
> highway department should pay for.  On the other hand, if it is purely
> conducive to AT hikers, then maybe the ATC or NPS might chip in?  Or seek a
> grant from the Federal Dept of Transportation.


I can't imagine that stretch of AT/road is dangerous enough to merit a
$600,000 bridge. Or, really, even a change. The road's shoulder is
plenty wide enough and there are  plenty of places with visibility long
enough to make safe crossings. If the ATC wants to throw $600,000 at a
dangerous situation, they should look at the Palisades parkway.


-- 
Felix J. McGillicuddy
ME-->GA '98
"Your Move"
ALT '03 KT '03
http://Felixhikes.tripod.com/


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