Build the (other) Bridge

Build the (other) Bridge


Once again, an incident has happened in the U.S. that has citizens and government regulators scrambling to prevent it from happening again.

Much like the deaths caused by the broken levees in New Orleans, the deaths caused by the collapsed bridge in Minneapolis could have been prevented if measures had been taken to inspect and repair the structures as necessary.

A disturbing trend in ths country is to wait until disaster strikes, then scranmble to prevent these things from happeniong again or elsewhere. After Katrina, levies across the country were inspected and shored up. Now bridges across the country will be inspected and repiared as necessary.

I can see it now — a large hurricane will strike the Outer Banks, and thousands will be left stranded, injured and dead because they all tried, but failed, to get off the island via the Wright Memorial Bridge. In the aftermath, the entire country will ask why no northern bridge exists, and everyone will scramble to get a bridge built so that it doesn't happen again.

Although start and end dates for a Mid-Currituck Bridge have tentatively been set, I believe it will take a tragedy like that described above to make everyone realize the importance of a Mid-Currituck Bridge. Sure it will cost alot of money and may temporarily disrupt the environment, but wouldn't it be better to pay that price now than to undertake a massive recovery effort and then be forever left to question why?

PAUL BRUDER | Corolla property owner

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