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One Bridge
September 15, 2004
Let’s talk about the pending River Avenue Bridge reconstruction. It is dire need of repair and expansion, and has been for almost thirty years, according to my grandparents. It is scheduled to be torn out and replaced in the summer of 2005. An article in today’s Holland Sentinel reports that many local residents would prefer two bridges instead of one. These people are being ridiculous. Critics of one bridge say that the local economy will suffer deeply, due to time lost in traffic congestion caused by bypassing the bridge. People in Holland have no idea what traffic congestion really means, compared to bigger cities such as Detroit and Chicago. The time lost by traveling east to Waverly or US 31 will be around 10 minutes, which is easily fixed by leaving home earlier.
The two bridge option will cost at least $2 million more, bringing the cost of the bridge to $8 million, which is one good reason to stick with the one bridge plan. The two bridge plan would also take two years, tying up traffic around the bridge in one way or another for an extra year.
A final, extra cost of the two bridge option, which no one seems to be hitting on, is the loss of Van Bragt Park. The room required for a second bridge, parallel to the existing, would require that this park be demolished in order to add approaches to the new bridge. While most people do not see this park as beneficial to the community in the first place, I do believe there is value in this park. First, it is the northern gateway to Holland, and provides a beautiful view before rounding the curve and the ugly, industrial views of Pine Avenue. Second, it provides quiet fishing ground for locals looking for fun and relaxation. And third, it actually has room for public docks, which, if dredged, could provide an opportunity for Holland to start opening up a more boater-friendly, summer tourist economy.
The public officials deciding between one and two bridges, the City of Holland, the Ottawa County Road Commission, and Holland Township, should not bend to the ill-informed and selfish residents who claim that the one bridge option will destroy the local economy and community. One year of construction is better than two. A savings of two million dollars is always a positive thing (less government spending is good). Keeping Van Bragt Park part of the northern gateway ensures a place to fish and a sightline of beauty. In all actuality, since this is a bid process, residents have no say in the matter, and while they were upset at this recent open house, it was not a public comment session, and the local officials therefore do not have to listen to any of it. And they shouldn’t.
Posted by paul at September 15, 2004 08:37 AM
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Comments
tracy said on September 20, 2004 04:08 PMi agree with the one bridge plan... i love that park and drive by it every day on my way to work, i would be sad to have nothing senic to look at. thanks for updating your web page Paul, i do enjoy reading it :)
Jon said on September 22, 2004 11:22 PMPaul, how many lanes are expected on the new bridge (assuming it is going to be just one)? I'm curious what the main differences will be. Hopefully, it will at least be more pedestrian friendly.
paul said on September 23, 2004 08:46 AMIt will be three lanes each way. Also, there are two seperate pedestrian bridges, one on each side. I beleve the eastern one is being built at this moment.