TimesLeader.com

Upset that both bridges were closed for parade

I would like to address a serious concern that arose this past Saturday around noon when two bridges connecting West Pittston to Pittston, were closed for an extended period of time. Since residents of both communities use these bridges daily and expect access daily, it was a huge inconvenience to have them both closed at the same time because of a parade!

I have experienced, as a resident of West Pittston, five serious floods including the national disastrous flood of 1972. Even in 1972 the residents were given a chance to get their families to safety before closing one bridge at a time.

Does the Tomato Festival Parade mean so much that we would jeopardize residents access to both sides of the river? I can see no reason BOTH bridges had to be closed at the same time, causing havoc everywhere.

I was personally attempting to get to the East side when I was turned away by sheriffs in uniform at both bridges stating to me that the closest bridge was the 8th Street Bridge in Wyoming. I proceeded to that area where I added an additional 30 minutes on Susquehanna Ave & 8th Street waiting to cross that bridge. Consequentially this normally 2 minute trip took me 60 minutes.

I did not have an emergency on 8/23/08, but I DID indeed have a family medical emergency recently that required me to get from West Pittston to Pittston and fortunately I arrived on time within 5 minutes. This is the flashback I had as I encountered Saturday’s bridges closing experience as I was turned away two times because of a parade!

Had this occurred on my emergency day, I cannot imagine what repercussions I would have encountered taking 60 minutes to get across the river! I certainly hope there were no medical emergencies last Saturday and I encourage officials in both towns to reconsider ever closing both bridges at the same time for a non disaster event!

Maureen Aritz