Re: “Key bridge to Mount Rainier ‘starting to buckle,’ closes indefinitely,” April 22, Native Information:
The indefinite closure of the Fairfax Bridge over the Carbon River is a disservice to the native and broader Washington neighborhood, out of doors lovers and the small companies that depend upon summer time site visitors. The suggestion of abandoning the bridge shouldn’t be on the desk.
As an alternative, the state should fund the renovation of the bent metal beams and columns. I urge WSDOT and the Nationwide Park Service to broaden public entry to the 9-mile detour route, which is at the moment restricted to first responders and native residents, by means of a low-cost $2 cross system, much like a toll street. This ensures equitable entry whereas preserving emergency response routes from site visitors congestion.
Washington’s pure parks are a shared useful resource, not a luxurious for individuals who stay close to alternate entrances. I urge WSDOT to be clear and in keeping with public updates. This may be completed by internet hosting bi-monthly boards on updates concerning the development and by permitting state legislators to prioritize funding to help a long-term resolution, whether or not that be fixing the precise columns which might be unstable or renovating the bridge fully.
Lydia Berhanu, Lynnwood
