Lehigh County is known for the Covered Bridge Trail. Fortunately for us, former Lehigh County Executive Dave Bausch has a great appreciation of history. In the future, there will be no stone arch bridge tour. Current Executive Donny Cunningham is preparing to tear down his second stone bridge, but rest assure he will be grinning at the new bridge ribbon cutting. Shown above was the historic Linden Street multi-arch stone bridge, built in 1884. It was rehabilitated in 1950 and destroyed in 2008 by Cunningham. Cunningham now plans to destroy and replace the Reading Road Bridge.* The Reading Bridge was built in 1824 and rehabilitated in 1980. In Europe bridges are 700 years old, but preservation and restoration doesn't lend itself to press conferences and career building.
*Reading Road Bridge is small stone arch bridge on Walnut Street by Union Terrace
related article: The Morning Call
I am so sorry to hear about the demise of historical bridges in the Lehigh Valley. MM you are right to point out that Europeans preserve and maintain bridges and other historical constructions. The difference is the Europeans believe in the community honoring and supporting all the citizens and their culture. They are progressive liberals (PLs as your readers refer) while our society is libertarian and materially based. We like to funnel money to construction contractors through "so-called" public works. The companies return the favor with campaign contributions. And so it goes......
ReplyDeleteThe saying goes that while Bethlehem preserves and treasures
ReplyDeleteits historic sites, Allentown tends to trash its. Just take a look at the former farm house on Dixon Street near Mack Boulevard as but one example.
When Don Cunningham said on the campaign trail that he was going to rebuild the bridges that needed it, he didn't say that he was going to build them ugly. Please, Don, learn to appreciate a little history. The Lehigh Valley and Allentown need people who respect what is good from the past and preserve it, all while keeping an eye on the future. You should be man enough to understand this.
ReplyDeletethe bridge is in excellent shape, which a future post will highlight. i confirmed my observations with a former city engineer. this bridge replacement is strictly for political reasons
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