80 year old Manette Bridge in Bremerton, WA is being replaced. Each year that passes it becomes harder and harder to make a case for restoring rather than replacing things with special character. The cost and safety case that is. I get it, but still. Residents in the city of Tacoma, WA really dug their heels in to try and save the Murray Morgan bridge of the same vintage. They had a good deal of sentimental support in their court, as it carried the name of a wonderful local author and historian who died a few years ago. Still, no luck. Sad.
Well, hats off Manette, I'll miss your face.
6 comments:
Wouldn't it be nice, though, if they would replace with a replication, as much as possible, of the old bridge? That shouldn't be so difficult, to keep the visual flavor. They do what fits the bureaucratic mind and it is rarely aesthetically pleasing. Lovely photo, Chris. It's good to capture these beauties before their demise.
Hi Teresa,
Yes, a replication would be great. In the case of Manette; the East side of Bremerton, which this bridge gives access to, has a strong business community pushing for bigger and expanded traffic options. Their portion of the community is in decline. Though this bridge carries a lot of traffic, it is a two lane road ending in an area of really small streets. Should be interesting. Or not. Yep, snap em' while you can, they are fading away.
In an effort toward balance and not pure sentiment on my part, we have a couple of whopping volcanic and earthquake challenges in this area. Each of the bridges mentioned are in the likely path of one or the other. Still...
Hugs,
Chris
I used to fish off of a suspension bridge over the Colorado River down here that was replaced. Miss it to this day. I understood why they had to replace it, but it was hard.
Jack,
Yes, it is hard. Bits and pieces of history slipping away. Hard to argue with safety concerns.
Chris
Baton Rouge hugs the Mississippi River. They kept repairing the old bridge, two lanes and a mess for sentimental reasons. The new bridge is wider, safer, and more convenient. Whenever I do have to drive on the old bridge, I feel a bit nervous. It's safe but so narrow (when it used to seem normal), I worry another car will veer into my lane. I'm normally for preserving, but, in this case, we had to adapt and it worked.
Hello Kittie!
You are spot on regarding the safety in making the changes. The bridge you see here does have that scary, too narrow, feeling about it when crossing over. Add a bicycle or two and it makes you wish you hadn't chosen it's route.
The Narrows bridge, which I've written about before, was pretty creepy during morning and evening rush hours. Everyone fought putting up a second bridge for traffic going in one direction, leaving the original to carry the other. Once approved and constructed, It has worked out beautifully. Adding that second bridge has given me an extra one and a half hours of home time each day since it's completion. It has taken a three hour commute (round trip) down to 1.5 a day.
I have adapted to the bridge. It has now been up a couple of years and I still get the giggles some mornings due to the wonderful difference.
Thanks for the thoughtful comments Kittie.
Hugs from the other side of the Mississippi,
Chris
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