Having spent over two hours at the ODOT open house re: the Waterville bridge it felt as though I was
attending an electronic gadget convention. Probably the greatest number of "used car salesmen"
ever amassed under one roof (employed by ODOT) were hawking ODOT’s wares but only the easily blackmailed
and frightened were buying. The premise was to sell a $22 million bridge that is so unneeded that Wood
and Lucas counties could go without any bridge for a year while a new one built of "fracture
critical" concrete with a life span of 27 years based on past experience with the I-475, I-75 and
now the Grand Rapids "new" bridge ODOT finds in need of replacement. By contrast, European
steel truss bridges like the current Waterville bridge suggest it should have a lifespan of somewhere
near the year 2170 if properly maintained.
As a matter of public safety none of the residents near the bridge or its approach intersections recalls
an injury accident … ever. Common sense dictates that line of sight straight bridges and their
approaches along with laser beam level is the safest way to go.
ODOTzilla (the master prankster) who brought you such novelties as the half billion dollar Toledo
veterans memorial bridge that is fond of dropping 40 pound ice chunks through windshields, all four
lanes of I-75 going under deep water in 2011 south of Findlay resulting in several days closure and the
ever popular Airport Highway intersection with 295 that Swanton Twp. trustees deem a "death
trap" on the news at 11 wants to deceive naive motorists once again with a bridge having curved
approaches and a Cedar Point "merry go round" ride at its end where semis, bicyclists, farm
equipment, slalom racing motorcycles, pedestrians, and the electronically distracted (with other
addictions) teenagers and the elderly with highly varied speeds and driving skills can all come together
on a patch of black ice in pieces and disharmonies.
This is not to mention the disruptions to commerce and two school districts on both sides of the river.

Litigious plaintiffs will soon line up for a chance to be first to win a judgment award based on flawed
engineering by ODOTzilla. A three way stop fosters courtesy, patience and honor. If it ain’t broke …
keep it! Forward the federal grants to veterans!
G.E. Thompson
64 Property Owners Association