‘Bridge over troubled waters’ article overstated some facts

July 23, 2008 12:49 am

— I would like to take issue with some of your reported facts: You stated the Hawley Fire Department would have to travel at least 27 miles out of its way while the new bridge is constructed. One can assume that is to get to Nash.
I checked this out personally and drove the present route from Nash to Hawley, using the bridge over the Salt Fork River; but also an alternate route going east of the Hawley Fire Department on a gravel road all the way to Trenton Rd., then south over the river and back to Highway 64 and back to Nash. I checked both ways with odometer and also with GPS.
I don’t know how you came up with 27 miles, but what I showed with driving and GPS was 13.6 miles from Hawley Fire Department to Nash by way of Trenton Rd. and back to Nash from east on Highway 64 and 7.8 miles using Highway 132 north of Nash and the existing bridge. Again I double checked with GPS.
My mother owns one of the properties next to the existing bridge. I walked down to, and under, this 70-year-old bridge. I can tell you it looks to be in terrible shape.
It will be somewhat of an inconvenience when demolition of the old bridge begins, but the end result will be well worth it. A couple hundred days of inconvenience is a small price to pay for saving someone from being maimed or killed from a collapse.
We ought to be grateful rather than complaining O.D.O.T. is rebuilding.
In times of budget cuts, layoffs, unemployment, high fuel prices, etc., a little inconvenience does not constitute a crisis. The difference is less than six miles and a few extra minutes.
Jim R. Strait
Enid