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To the editor:
Regarding the article "Annisquam River Bridge On Critical List" (The Times, Monday, Aug. 30, Page 1), I have to comment on some quotes from the story.
"The MBTA's 110-year-old Annisquam River railroad drawbridge has quietly decayed over the decades and now is one of the most decrepit in Massachusetts...substructure and superstructure inspectors classify as 'barely functioning;'
"Inspectors have rated the drawbridge as 'structurally deficient,' meaning the bridge is in need of repairs or replacement...though it remains safe for the delivery of passenger rail service, said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo."
This is the part that makes me laugh or cry. How can this possibly be called safety?
"...The Annisquam River bridge's decline has gone largely unnoticed...overshadowed by (other) projects over the past decade. Those include the ongoing rehabilitation of the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge."
Hmmmmm...let's see, how much money's been spent on installing two suicide fences on the Piatt Bridge, after which someone still jumped?
"Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk said she, too, was unaware of the poor condition of the span."
Given the fact that Gloucester and Rockport are on an island, i.e. only access to land is over a bridge or through a tunnel, shouldn't she have known about the condition of this bridge?
"The MBTA owns 475 bridges in the state and 38, including the Annisquam Bridge, have been given condition ratings in the two lowest categories out of a five-category scale. In the latest inspection of the Annisquam River Bridge, MBTA engineers rated the walkways, bearings, fender system and elastomer pads all in the 'barely functioning' category, as well as the sub and superstructure."
"Fire protection, buffers and chains on the bridge were all given 'zero' ratings, indicating that they either do not exist and are 'not acceptable.'" Even a quick look at the bridge from the riverbank shows rusted metal on the supports holding the span above the water, and worn wooden timbers."
Are any of my fellow commuters concerned about this?
Do these words and phrases from this article ("barely functioning, poor condition, critical, structurally deficient, bridges decline, lowest (rated) categories of scale, zero ratings, not acceptable, rusted metal supports, worn wooden timbers...") not indicate, "Houston, we have a problem?"
JUNE HAYES
Granite Street, Rockport
