Worth Noting

Worth Noting



Publication Date: 01/19/09


In this space on Mondays, we will select a notable quote or two from a recent St. Augustine Record news story and some responses from the online comments section.

We'll add our own view, too.

If you've seen comments in The Record within the past week that are worth noting again, send them to letters@staugustine.com. Please put "Worth noting" in the subject line of your e-mail. Be sure you provide the quote and the date it ran in The Record. We'll do the rest.

History in the remaking

From The Record

Jan. 13, 2009

By Kati Bexley

Here is an excerpt from the story:

The Bridge of Lions came one step closer Monday to taking its final shape with the installation of its first girder.

Girders are the arched support structures under the roadway of the bridge, and on Monday the first of 24 was returned to the Bridge of Lions construction site.

Laurie Sanderson, Department of Transportation Bridge of Lions project spokeswoman, said there are 24 girders from the original Bridge of Lions, built in 1927, that Florida Structural Steel in Lakeland is restoring.

"We'll bring in the girders one at a time as they are completed," Sanderson said. "Once the girders are put in, it really will start to look like a bridge again."

The Bridge of Lions Rehabilitation project, funded by the Florida Department of Transportation, began in February 2005. Completion of the rehabilitated bridge is expected in late Fall 2009, and will be followed by removal of the temporary bridge.



Selected online comments in response to the story posted with the original story at www.staugustine.com:

Posted by Glynn_doll, Jan. 13:

"I'll be so happy to see all this construction done, it'll be fun to walk the Bridge again."

Posted by : talyen01, Jan. 13:

"SparkyL56: ... One other point for all our historians: 'History is made not destroyed,' as the title to this article implies. Additionally, if you want to learn more about historic bridges of the U.S, go to historic bridges of the U.S., click on Florida, then click on Duval County for example, and see how many bridges built after 1920 are considered historic (roughly 90%). What would our city look like today if our forefathers 'or mothers' destroyed everything that aged?"

Posted by SparkyL56, Jan. 13:

"If that were entirely true U.S 1 would still be a two-lane brick road. I understand the need to maintain the historical integrity of the downtown area. Most of the buildings located in the Historic District are actually reproductions as the originals either burned or were otherwise destroyed. They were built to match the original appearance but also included modern conveniences that may not have been part of the original building such as electrical and plumbing as well as making it accessible. I see the bridge a similar situation where we had the opportunity to make it more functional but still maintain the original appearance.

Ideally it would be great if we could provide access to the (Anastasia) Island without passing through the downtown area, and make it strictly a walking or biking city.

FYI. I am not a transplant, my family has been here for many generations so I think I am entitled express my opinion."

Our view:

The Record supported the rehabilitation of the Bridge of Lions in an editorial on July 18, 1999, titled, "Some things cannot be replaced." We're glad to see the project near the finish line. We look forward to its reopening.


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http://www.staugustine.com/stories/011909/opinions_01-19-09_025.shtml

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