Warren G. Harding was president when the Wurts Street bridge opened to traffic.
In any event, Hein knows bridges, as evidenced by his adroit handling of the potentially controversial replacement of the Carmine Liberta Bridge in New Paltz. For that alone, he was worth at least a mention.
Historic decisions
Cahill’s news on the Wurts Street bridge was welcomed with more than the usual huzzahs last week. The $37 million earmark is major money, of a magnitude similar to the entire annual Kingston city budget.
That DOT works off a five-year capital plan subject to change, delay or even abandonment seemed hardly cause for concern. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the wheels of progress grind exceedingly slow in Albany. The earmark was by any measure a significant first step, but attendant already to no small controversy.
The possibility that this 1921 Roebling suspension bridge might be torn down for reasons of economy and efficiency, and replaced with something called a “cable-stayed bridge” has people taking sides.
Kingston historian Ed Ford, a man who will fight the demolition of almost any city landmark dating at least to the mid-20th century, expressed surprise that the state was even considering that option. “I never even gave a thought to it being replaced,” he said over the weekend.
Ford can be forgiven being somewhat out of touch this summer. He fell at home in June, injuring a hip, and has only recently returned from intense rehabilitation at Northern Dutchess Hospital. “I’m using a walker, for now,” said the ever-optimistic über-elder. At 98, Ford, born three years before the bridge was dedicated, says he has every intention of attending the grand opening of the new span, whatever form it takes. At Albany warp speed, that might happen in 2022.
After decades of neglect by the state DOT, the old bridge underwent a facelift two years ago under a $2 million appropriation secured by Cahill. The decking, pieces of which were falling into the Rondout Creek, was replaced. The supporting upper structure was repaired and repainted.
The facelift was the result of the inexcusable avoidance of regular state maintenance. Had the aged structure near the graceless Loughran bridge been torn down or a new bridge built in its place, of course, the rehab project would have been a couple of million bucks thrown down the drain.
The case for the cable-stayed bridge is that it could be built in less time for far less money and on a scale to accommodate modern traffic, pedestrians and bikers. On the other hand, the iconic Wurts Street bridge has been here since Warren Harding was president, a gateway to one of the Hudson Valley’s most historic cities. And Port Ewen is not without charm.
I think we need an upgrade of the existing bridge.
So, Hugh, the question that comes to mind after reading this column is this: How did Hein play golf? Was he a rules hawk? Or did he use the “foot wedge” when tree bound? Swipes through bunker sand? Miraculously find balls that should have never, ever been found? Forgot to card the shtupp shots?
Just wondering about his character during an outing.
I bet he took a billion “Mulligans”, played “winter rules plus”, and all manner of enhancements. He probably had a tee shot go awry toward an Infirmary resident, then “forgot” to yell “fore.” When Donald Trump walked by, he asked what he could do to enhance his image. And when he hit one out of bounds, he hit one in bounds and took his provisional and scored only according to that. Then again, I wasn’t there.