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Our View: Pleasant St. bridge decision prudent

By Staff | Jun 27, 2007

City officials in Tonganoxie are to be congratulated for their problem-solving effort surrounding the Pleasant Street bridge.

A recent inspection had led officials to place a 5-ton limit on the bridge. The weight limit meant emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances would be forced to take a longer route to Tonganoxie Nursing Center. In emergencies, time is crucial, and worries spread about the long-term effects of dealing with the weight limit.

Enter city officials, Mayor Mike Vestal and council members. They looked at several ways of dealing with the problem. They didn’t panic, and instead weighed information they collected before making a decision.

Last week, they announced their plan: Provide a temporary fix to the bridge, which will require a two- to three-week closing of the span. The temporary fix could last up to seven years, which will give the city plenty of time to apply and receive federal and state funding to help construct a new bridge.

It’s a solution that will fix a problem in the short term and will save Tonganoxie taxpayers in the long term. Well done!