The historic Stone Arch Bridge, in the background of the first photo and shown again in the second, was built in 1883 and carried freight trains over the Mississippi in downtown Minneapolis for almost 100 years, until 1978. The late I-35W bridge that now litters the river was built just 40 years ago.
It seems to me that not only are the old-style bridges like these (Hennepin Ave., Central Ave. and Stone Arch) with their arches and/or suspension cables sturdier than the long slender unsupported span of the freeway bridge that was, but far more aesthetic as well. They just don't build bridges like they used to. Or maybe they just don't take care of them like they used to.
Many of us here in Minnesota are now in that angry after-event phase of looking around for someone to blame. It's tempting to point fingers at our no-new-taxes governor, Tim Pawlenty, for his stinginess when it comes to the state's infrastructure, as well as other things. But local blogger Rich Broderick makes a strong argument on the Twin Cities Daily Planet that the neglect of our infrastructure is a nationwide problem that goes back much further than that. Who wants to spend taxpayer money on boring things like taking care of bridges and highways when there are wars to be fought and tax cuts to dish out?
It reminds me of the time years ago when one of my girlfriends moved out to her own apartment for the first time and whined about having to spend her money on boring things like toothpaste. She, however, figured it out before she had to spend much more on even more boring things like dental work.
But the question remains, will American voters and the politicians who court us figure it out before another tragedy strikes?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for reading, and for sharing your thoughts.