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Issue in Detail Perhaps you've read about the City of Ann Arbor planning to rebuild 2 bridges for a cost over $21 million dollars based on an initial study performed by the city traffic engineering department. Other media outlets talk about costs in the range of $30 Million dollars (link here) also referencing sources from the cities engineering staff. Sure, the bridges are in bad shape, and something needs to be done. But, do we really need to spend over $20 to $30 million on bridges here in Ann Arbor that are a want, when so many other critical needs are being unmet in our City, State, and Nation? Instead of building a costly pair of new bridges, why not just take them down and put in an at grade road? One would have to believe that Ann Arbor could take down bridges faster and cheaper than taking them down and rebuilding them. This could eliminate 3 to 4 stoplights, help minimize cut through traffic in the neighborhoods, ease pedestrian and bike flow, make for a simple Stadium to State interchange instead of the convoluted 3 lefts make a right system we currently have. More importantly, this could save the taxpayers over $20 million dollars! Ah - but that is apparently not the case. When mentioned to the Mayor and Council staff during a public commentary (link to note here), the reply was "We've looked at that, and the Engineering department did not recommend it." The letter discussing why a "No Bridge Proposal" is not recommended can be found here: No Bridge Opinion Letter (click to open). Nobody wants their work criticized. The worst part about being an Engineer is that everyone else wants to be an Engineer too. And, it is often easier to find error than provide solutions. But, in reading the letter, it almost feels as though, before the opinion was written, people got together and said "Alright, we want to build a bridge, so lets formulate an opinion that shows we need a bridge." Every possible negative was pointed out for a "No Bridge Option" with some very questionable hypothetical costs. Essentially, the city has 2 bridges and wants to rebuild them. Just because they are there does not mean they are needed. And, in this economy, we cannot afford to not try and save $20 million dollars of tax payer money for critical needs that are currently being unmet. With the massive layoffs and budget deficits our community is facing, we need to be smart about what we spend money on, especially $35 million dollars of it.
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