Pine-Creek Hur Road getting bridge improvement
COMMENT By Bob Weaver
They say when you get older you tend to live in the past, like remembering when bread was four loaves for a dollar, or you could buy four rolls of top-quality, heavy-ply toilet paper with lots of sheets for much less than a dollar.
I thought about this defect driving down Pine Creek-Hur road this week when I saw a sign announcing the construction of a new bridge.
I should be delighted that a new bridge is getting built on my road, the old one likely needs replaced, but I was startled at the price tag on the WV Department of Highways sign announcing the construction.
It was over a half-million dollars, actually $546,450, all state taxpayer money.
I know there's been a big media campaign for the past 30 years that says private corporations can do things cheaper than the government, and many people believe that talking point.
Traveler's will no longer contend with
outdated bridge on narrow country road
Somehow, it seems to me that if the highway department was still in the business of building, paving and constructing, they could do it a might cheaper than a half-million for the taxpayers.
A neighbor down the road calculated we could contract the project with a couple large culverts with some concrete from Grantsville and turn a pretty good profit for less than $100,000. But then, we're no experts about such things.
We're both sorta old.
Then I was reminded that the money goes into the economy and will help a contractor from somewhere and a few employees he will hire to do the job.
It will be nice for the crooked narrow road without a center line to have double-lane access on either end of a nice bridge which will allow for a few feet of smooth sailing.
After re-thinking my anger, I feel much better now.
I can't wait and would even be willing to head the bridge dedication ceremony.
| 
