YOUR LETTERS Questions about bridge repair

I’m writing this letter to the editor to express my frustration with the lack of progress on the repair work on the Haggith Creek bridge on the Willowcale Forestry Road. As you know, the multimillion dollar bridge span, which replaced the old culverts under the crossing, was deemed to be unsafe in the summer.

The road was closed on Sept. 1 to allow for the problem to be fixed. The solution to the problem appears to be a large culvert, which was buried at the base of the creek bed, under the bridge span to control the Haggith Creek waterway. The work was completed at the end of September, however, the bridge crossing is still currently closed to the public.

I believe the city needs to provide the public with some answers:

1. Why was the Haggith Creek span replaced with a steel girder bridge, at a much higher cost, compared to just replacing the original culvert?

2. Why was the solution to the Haggith Creek bridge crossing failure solved by installing a culvert to control the creek? Why wasn’t this done originally?

3. During the project, were soil stability/compression samples not taken? A soil stability sample should have indicated a potential failure in the earthworks.

4. Many groups (commuters, businesses, transport companies) which rely on the Willowcale FSR, have incurred additional expenses travelling the detour routes. Will these groups be compensated?

6. Assuming that since there is no construction happening on the project right now, is the project complete? If so, why isn’t the roadway reopened? If the project isn’t complete, why is there no construction activity happening? Is this repair project on hold? 7. If the span can’t be opened to two lane traffic, why can’t it be re-opened to single lane, alternating traffic?

8. When is the Haggith Creek crossing on the Willowcale FSR going to reopen to the public?

I think that many folks who normally access this route are looking for some answers to these questions. Silence isn’t a tax-payer appropriate response.

Nick Gierc Prince George pointment to see my family doctor and to get blood work done.

As I was leaving the Phoenix Medical Building, I saw a lady driving her car, talking on the phone and smoking.

It had been snowing heavily and it was icy underneath the snow. Is this not called distracted driving?

I only wish there had been a RCMP officer there to see this incident and I am sure she would have received more than a warning of distracted driving. A fine perhaps? Anyone driving like that would deserve a fine, as they are not driving safely. K. Wendland Prince George