Bothersome bridge a bad investment

For those heading west with plans to visit or revisit Hinton’s main tourist attraction, the Beaver Boardwalk, located in a prime birding and wetland area within the town, be ready for a surprise.

Despite strong local opposition since last fall, the small footbridge leading onto the boardwalk has been replaced by a one-lane, highway grade, 12.5-tonne steel bridge. After citizen complaints to Alberta Environment and Parks, the town was required to remove the gravel roadways leading up to the bridge, leaving the bridge now one metre above the path — fun to navigate!

This totally unnecessary and unattractive bridge, placed in a Class A wetland (designated for the highest level of protection), was designed by a Calgary engineering firm for close to $400,000. It is a prime example of human interference in wildlife.

Last week, the UN reported one million species are at risk of extinction — habitat loss being a main cause — and the citizens of Hinton now have their administration and town council to thank for contributing to that demise.

And, sadly, we citizens have paid for it. So visitors, be prepared. At least you don’t have to live with it.

M.E. Harper, Hinton