Thank you, new city councilors, for realizing the need to re-evaluate the proposed 32nd Street overpass. In the recent Herald poll, at one count, 88% of voters were against building this monstrosity.
The cost is astronomical while providing little benefit.
My neighbor, Janet Wiley, in her Feb. 5 letter (“Bridge has been 15 years in planning”) mistakenly compares the “controversy” surrounding this proposed $4.1 million bridge to controversy involving the Recreation Center 20 years ago. There is no comparison!
There was limited grumbling about building the Recreation Center. It was needed in our community and Janet is absolutely correct that the Rec Center is one of Durango’s best attributes. However, the Recreation Center now, 20 years later, is extremely overcrowded, creating conflict with different users competing for space. It no longer adequately meets the needs of the community.
Put the $4.1 million into expansion of the Rec Center rather than an unneeded pedestrian bridge.
Also, money should be put into repairing the dilapidated portions of the existing trail that have caused numerous accidents, yet Cathy Metz refuses to perform needed maintenance.
Recently, my past next-door neighbor on 33rd Street, Mike Freeburn, wrote about a girl who was injured at the 32nd St. Bridge (“Please move forward with this bridge!”, letters, Feb. 7). My guess is that this happened decades ago, way before the crossing light was there. In 40 years, I have never had an issue crossing 32nd Street.
Tim WolfDurango
