 FINALLY, DEBATE CAN SHIFT TO NEEDED BRIDGE PROJECT Palm Beach Post -- Monday, July 16, 2001 The Walton Road toll bridge is dead, at least for now and, with any luck, forever. Three cheers and a standing ovation for the project's citizen critics, who wouldn't shut up despite a harassing lawsuit and even launched a "Ban the Span" Web site to keep opponents advised on the bridge battle. A round of applause also is in order for the state and federal agencies that told the truth - that the $45 million bridge wasn't needed for hurricane evacuation and could harm sea grasses. The $20 million state grant toward the 14,000-foot span across the Indian River Lagoon to Hutchinson Island now shifts to a legitimate project: the proposed West Virginia Drive bridge across the St. Lucie River. State Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, who proposed the Walton Road span, said he saw Port St. Lucie's traffic problems and listened to local people who said the West Virginia bridge and widened road, which would link U.S. 1 with Interstate 95, should be the priority. Gov. Bush sent the Walton Road bridge supporters a message a few weeks ago when he vetoed the Legislature's $1.4 million bailout for the Garcon Point Bridge in Florida's Panhandle, an environmental disaster and unneeded toll bridge that couldn't generate enough money to cover costs. The proposed Walton Road bridge had a carbon-copy story: No need, too close to free bridges and a threat to the environment, in this case Savannas State Preserve. The fight to push the Walton Road Bridge grew vicious last year, when an engineering firm involved with both bridges filed a slander suit against citizen critics. Citizens continued to speak out against the bridge, despite the harassment some suffered. With the unnecessary bridge out of the picture, the community can turn its attention to the West Virginia bridge. The infusion of money from the Walton Road project could allow officials to begin the permitting process and seek bids for design and engineering within a month. The community is not in total agreement. Though the St. Lucie County Commission supports the $38 million bridge, the St. Lucie County Conservation Alliance and other environmental groups have raised some concerns. Alliance spokesmen are worried that the bridge and road will damage sensitive land along the river, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is concerned about the impact on the pristine Halpatiokee Preserve. Fortunately, there is room for debate about environmental concerns and time to conduct it. At the moment, though, celebration is in order. Copyright (c) 2001, The Palm Beach Post |