Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Many Bridges To Cross

Toppled Jersey barrier on Mill Street Bridge

Vandals -- rather strong ones -- managed to tip over this road block on one side of the Mill Street Bridge which has been closed for over a year now due to unsafe structural support.  I say strong because a Jersey barrier weighs a couple tons.    

 Barrier on southern end was undisturbed (maybe they were too tired)

According to DPW Chief Guilford Mooring town officials are "putting some options together and then there will be public discussion" about the future of the bridge.   

But the more time that passes the more likely it will stay closed forever, like the Woodside Avenue Bridge over the bike path that was totally replaced 13 years ago and then never allowed (by Select Board vote) to reopen to vehicular traffic.

Woodside Avenue bridge:  The bridge to nowhere



The Mill Street bridge is strategically located between State and Summer Streets and is perfectly parallel to the Puffer's Pond waterfall.

Puffer's Pond:  popular summer destination spot



9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The tire tracks across it are interesting, no?

However, I am from the school of thought that you put a LARGE, REFLECTIVE *something* on the barrier to indicate that the road ends. If nothing else, two "stop" signs -- although the traditional "<<<<>>>>" is far more appropriate.

We live in a world where *sober* drivers drive down railroad tracks because their GPS device told them to turn onto them -- and this is on the GPS as a *road* which it once was.

It didn't have to be a drunk driver that hit this -- one not paying attention could have just as well. Gilford, we have standards for a reason -- MARK THE DAMN THING!

And what is this painting it green with a flowerpot on top -- it's a damn HIGHWAY DEVICE not a community garden!

Anonymous said...

That is an OUI fatality waiting to happen -- some drunk sees the barrier at the last minute and swerves -- through the railing and into the pond, just like Teddy K.

DaveMB said...

A replacement barrier is now in place.

There is a notice on the green, undamaged barrier indicating that it is part of a (presumably private)
project to beautify the bridge and make it into a
small park.

Anonymous said...

There is a notice on the green, undamaged barrier indicating that it is part of a (presumably private)
project to beautify the bridge and make it into a small park.


W H A T ?!?!?!?

Is that or is that not TOWN Property? Is that or is that not a Public Way that has been TEMPORALLY closed due to safety concerns?

Why, exactly, is this not considered "vandalism"? And would the people who did this be liable if it caused the town to be sued -- nope..

And as to things being marked and showing up -- or fatalities if they aren't, see the latest details on the Tappen Zee Wedding Fatality.

Anonymous said...

I remember this one from New Haven, CT:
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/18/nyregion/4-missing-teen-agers-found-in-car-on-river-bottom.html

Car apparently drove through the space between concrete barriers and into the river- 4 teens died.

Hopefully the closure of the bridge at Puffers is well marked and well barricaded

DaveMB said...

And now the new barrier has also been painted green. There are "bridge closed" signs on both sides, both as soon as you turn onto the closed section of road and again when the bridge comes into sight. But it seems that GPS's don't know about the closure -- this morning a cable truck was surprised to find it coming from the south.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps the APD ought to be inquiring as to who is painting town property without permission?

Perhaps?

Anonymous said...

"recalculating" https://www.google.com/search?q=recalculating&client=firefox-a&hs=QOg&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=8sX6UajzKNK84AOwwICgDg&ved=0CEAQsAQ&biw=1093&bih=429#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=LI_B0DZfegagBM%3A%3BnI4SIG_7QyKjdM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.highachieversnetwork.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F06%252FRecalculating.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.highachieversnetwork.com%252Fhigh-achievers-network%252Frecalculating-five-high-achievers-steps-in-right-direction%3B600%3B583

Anonymous said...

Say what you want, I trust my premonitions. Gilford, I don't like this -- you are going to have someone either head-on into the barrier or dodging it and through the railing. Dead either way.

I hope I'm wrong but I'm usually not.