Just call me the source to breaking news. In this case, I broke the news in June about Hillsboro's Bridge to Nowhere being refurbished as part of the Stimulus spending by our government.. The newsies and political beings just started getting around to it week.
I did learn thru the news that $150,000 was spent (the town did put in the rest of the money) and 190 jobs were created. Really? 190 jobs were created? I never saw more than 8-10 people at the site. And ooh boy, those jobs lasted a whole long time anyway.
Then there is the explanation of the intention of the job on the ARRA website which is to "better accommodate pedestrians and bycicles." (from The Union Leader)
As I noted on my June 20 blog post, "The old bridge was left partially standing (the far side doesn't attach to anything) . . ."
Please note, the bridge still doesn't attach to anything, in fact, a fence at the end of the bridge keeps anyone from falling (or jumping) off, so I'm guessing that pedestrians and bicyclists still won't be finding it real useful.
WMUR quotes Hillsborough's Planning Director:
"It's an historic transportation structure," O'Keefe said. "It fits soundly within the guidelines for transportation enhancement at the federal and state level, and had we lost this bridge, just imagine what we'd be talking about now." (bolding mine - bogie)
Yes, let's imagine for a moment that one of the many, many structurally deficient bridges in NH had been renovated instead. Maybe the Shaker bridge in Enfield, NH wouldn't have been closed. Maybe the money could have gone toward renovation of the heavily travelled Memorial Bridge, between NH and Maine (which recently had a chunk fall into the river). Maybe it could have gone to one of the other, functional stone arch bridges in the state that needs repair.
If that had happened, we would be talking about how at least a useful project was completed instead of what a waste of taxpayer's dollars it is!
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