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February 20, 2012

Forget the footbridge over the river

To the editor:

The people who propose a footbridge for viewing on the new Whittier Bridge, to be built on Interstate 95, are completely out of touch with reality.

One person proposes a bulletproof shield to protect the sightseers from careening, 80 mph cars and trucks. Another wag suggested putting it under the bridge. Both have not even considered the shield needed for the mile and a half egress from Storey Avenue to the bridge and the added mile of protection needed from the bridge to Route 110 in Salisbury.

This would add tremendous costs and complexity to the bridge. Plus things like snow removal and police protection that would be required. Who's going to sweep this all up or get rid of the dog poop? Wash this wall of glass?

But most important of all, forget about it. The state police have purview over I-95. The last I heard, they take a dim view about people walking along their state roads. Don't believe it? Try thumbing a ride on 95. It will get you a free ride in a state police cruiser and a stay in a cell at the barracks.

I don't care how much protection you offer, I believe they would take a dim view about the occasional sightseer who would walk the 3-mile trip, just to grin at the Merrimack.

If someone is bent on seeing the view from the bridge, they can always go to Plum Island airport and for 50 bucks, the pilot will give you a ride along the Merrimack. You can take pictures to your heart's content. As a mechanical engineer, I say let the engineers design a good, strong, balanced bridge, able to handle the traffic for years to come. Don't add to their burden by putting on a useless, cockamamie footbridge as a design requirement.

Bob Folsom

Newburyport

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