Don’t destroy Jefferson Street bridge

I have spoken to a number of citizens of Lexington and every one of them says the traffic would be a nightmare if the Jefferson Street Bridge is taken down. Like me, they don’t want it demolished under any circumstances.

Has a real traffic study been done first by council? Nope. Has our council heard all the pros and cons of our traffic-relieving viaduct? Nope. Has council looked into the 96-year history of traffic relief before it votes? Nope.

After all, why take a bridge down that is used 24/7/365 in favor of a new end of Heritage Hall that might get used only four times a year, at most? Or an amphitheater that might be used no more than 26 hours out of 8,760 hours a year?

A bridge has stood there for 96 years, easing car and truck traffic over a railroad and more recently, over a parking lot for Rupp Arena events. This latest, well-built, sturdy new bridge was built in 1980.

The public’s right to a traffic-calming bridge far outweighs an addition to a little-used, far end of Heritage Hall or a little-used amphitheater. The Heritage Hall addition doesn’t even go to the bridge.

Since there is so much land available, a re-drawing of the renderings should include the bridge. The amphitheater can be moved anywhere within a nine-acre park. And the Heritage Hall addition can be shortened or widened.

The argument that the mouth of each end of the bridge can be the only entrance into the park is absurd considering how many other points of entry there are. Plans are redrawn all the time in the public interest.

Isn’t it funny that in the past 12 years, Jim Gray, as vice mayor and then as mayor, has not shown much interest in improving the programming of our four downtown parks that also total nine acres, but suddenly becomes interested in a new fifth, nine-acre park, one that is outside the downtown central business district?

Even though there was no programming at our four downtown parks, all of a sudden 600 new programs will somehow magically happen at our newest park? It wouldn’t be because our construction CEO mayor likes the $39 million to $75 million price tag, would it?

And where would traffic converge if the bridge came down? At West Main and Broadway, of course. Anybody who thinks Oliver Lewis Way and Versailles Road is a viable option has not driven it yet. Oliver Lewis Way is too far away for us to travel north-south on the west end of downtown.

Write council members at councilmembers@lexingtonky.gov.

Lexington’s taxpayers own this bridge, not the Town Branch Park advisory board, Lexington Center Board or neighborhood associations.