Mike Smedley’s satirical commentary (Action Line, Herald, Dec. 14) about closing the glass recycle station at 32nd Street would be funny were it not so sad. It’s another blunder by our city government. I will miss this convenient recycle opportunity, as will others. But this is not the real tragedy here.
Removing the recycle bins to build an enormous, expensive and unnecessary pedestrian overpass across the west side of 32nd Street Bridge is the real tragedy. If the city wants to spend our tax money for an overpass, then build it where it will do some good. Build it across Camino del Rio near River City Hall where that scary crosswalk is, or across U.S. Highway 550 to connect south Durango to Santa Rita and Whitewater Park where it would provide access for many in the community without having to drive a car there to the often overcrowded parking areas.
This proposed overpass at 32nd Street would be an ugly abomination. It was proposed as a result of the city staff and our City Council’s gross inability to work with the property owners on the northeast corner of the 32nd Street Bridge. The owners were willing to sell their property to the city wherein a tasteful and unobtrusive pedestrian underpass could have been built under the bridge. Doing so would also have provided expanded area to the riverfront park immediately to the north, all for less cost than the proposed overpass. That opportunity is now lost.
Further, this proposed overpass is part of the city’s expensive and controversial attempt to extend the River Trail farther to the north through private property and wetlands as part of city staff’s personal agenda for trail expansion. This overpass is not needed at 32nd Street. A simpler controlled pedestrian crossing would suffice.
The City Council needs to re-evaluate the necessity of this proposed boondoggle and balance its merit, or lack of it, with other community needs. If this overpass is built, it could be Durango’s next “Bridge to Nowhere” and another example of foolish spending by our city government.
Jeffery Brown
Durango
