Robert Jacobs,
Jefferson City
Dear Editor,
I am writing to address an article that was recently published in the News Tribune regarding the High Street viaduct. The estimated price tag for just the design of the replacement was $1 million and an overall estimate for the entire project being $12 million, though with the cost of materials increasing daily, the cost will likely be more unless they act soon.
When dealing with our infrastructure issues, a question that never seems to be asked is, do we really need to replace it?
What was the justification for the viaduct and its continued maintenance? What are the alternatives? What are the traffic counts? What are the alternative routes in case there is a flood and the two parts of the city are unable to connect? Is the $13 million price tag worth the extra couple of minutes saved in commutes? How much would it cost to tear it down and not replace it?
We need to start thinking about these questions when dealing with our aging infrastructure. We cannot continue with business as usual because doing business as usual is what got us to this point in the first place.