The Skyway vs. another set of priorities.
By: Cindyk. This is a topic that has been on my mind much lately. I wonder how people, including our elected leaders, could think we should spend millions in taxpayer money to tear the Skyway down when the Grand Island bridges are deemed structurally deficient?
If anyone can seriously answer that, then you’re smarter than I.
If to say it’s ugly, it’s a dinosaur, it just needs to go… keep in mind, it’s structurally sound and not in any disrepair, there is nothing calling the skyway an unsafe bridge.
Then you take a closer a look at the Grand Island bridges, and have to question such priorities of some politicians.
There’s a serious problem with the infrastructure in the Erie/Niagara region…. from Senator Stachowski’s district in Buffalo to Senator Thompson’s in Niagara Falls, and everywhere in between. Drive down the streets in every area to get the full effect in how badly politicians have neglected our streets. They are falling apart, potholes nearly the size of manhole covers, duct tape to cover exposed wires of a street light, patchwork on top of patchwork, and the best we get is (some other) elected representatives in Buffalo who think it’s more important to have the skyway gone, or others who continue to ignore the problems at the Grand Island bridges.
I’ll let these comparing images ask the real story of prioritizing:
Special thanks to Rus Thompson (Albany’s Insanity & No GI Tolls) for use of his pictures.
Good post Cindy.
The DOT takes care of the Skyway and the Thruway Authority maintains the Grand Island Bridges and the 190.
Who does the better job?
Comment by Rus Thompson — August 30, 2008 @ 7:40 am
I think the answer is quite simple, Rus.
In the bigger picture of it all though, it’s about our elected “leaders” prioritizing how and what our tax dollars should be used for.
Comment by Cindyk — August 30, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Please in mind that the skyway has to be closed down in bad (i.e., snowy and windy) weather. On those occasions when I’ve been forced to take South Park out of the city because the Skyway was closed without warning, my commuting time to Angola invariably took an additional 2-1/2 hours. The question has been asked if the people who designed the Skyway knew it was going to be built in Buffalo.
Comment by Stephanie — September 2, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Stephanie, I can’t tell if you’re supporting of fixing the rest of the city first, but thinking of all the traffic of the skyway being at ground-level, I’ll bet you’re daily commute will be much longer than what it is now. Having a 4 lane highway on the ground means traffic lights to stop at and pedestrians to watch out for. After all, “easy access” is the term used to promote a new waterfront.
Though, I’m more concerned with the neglected infrastructure this city has been going through over the past decade or so. For me, I’m tired of just hearing about fixing our streets from campaigning politicians. The sight of bridges in such disrepair (like the Grand Island ones) should be a good enough wake up call for them to see that the skyway can (and should) wait until more important matters are dealt with.
Comment by Cindyk — September 2, 2008 @ 6:57 pm