Well, folks, the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday is coming to a close and now, it's time to "hit the road blogging" here at GRG HQ.

Way down in Columbus, Georgia, there's a bridge that's really old. (To the tune of "Columbus Stockade Blues".)



In 1930, on Brown Avenue, a bridge was built over the the now-Norfolk Southern rail line. Nearly 80 years (and more and more heavier vehicles) later, the bridge is showing its age and is in bad need of replacement. Here's a Google Earth aerial snapshot of said bridge...


According to an article in this past week's Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, this particular bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2011 and is estimated to cost $10,000,000. The bridge is still open to traffic, but only to vehicles weighing 3 tons (2.73 metric tons) or less.

Until the bridge is replaced, heavier vehicles (including, but not limited to, school buses, concrete trucks, and tractor-trailers) are probably having to be routed as follows...

- Brown Avenue to Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Boulevard
- MLK Boulevard to Buena Vista Road
- Buena Vista Road to Andrews Road
- Andrews Road to Cusseta Road (Old US 27/280)

After viewing the History Channel show "The Crumbling of America", I am sometimes amazed that we do not have any more catastrophic failures at any level. While it does cost money to keep our infrastructure in top condition, it can be much cheaper than having to pay out damages to victims of tragedies such as the infamous Minneapolis bridge collapse. Furthermore, our infrastructure needs to be kept in top condition so that our economy and way of life can be as good as possible. China has seen how we invested in the past and is doing the same for their own economic well-being. If we are to continue to be the world's standard bearer in terms of our streets, highways, and bridges, then we must make the necessary investments.

As for the Columbus bridge in question, I would rather have seen both Columbus Consolidated Government and the Georgia DOT take quicker action to get this bridge replaced, especially given the apparent poor conditions that were shown to Columbus's local elected officials. Why should we wait for this bridge, or for that matter, other similar bridges across Georgia to get in such poor condition? If tax dollars are spent for the benefit of America's people and businesses, then we all can be winners in the long run.

Before I go, I want to let you know how thankful I am to have such a wonderful wife, family, friends, and for you, my readers. I encourage you to take some time out to be thankful for your blessings and to let your family and friends know how much you appreciate them.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.

 

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