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SUNDAY NIGHT - Like a bridge over I-35

Sunday Night by MaryHelen Swanson

I surmise that before the traffic congestion over the I-35 bridge in North Branch is relieved, weíll be singing a song with a familiar tune: ìLike a concrete span over a troubled high-speed interstate.î

We are all aware of the great need to improve the freeway overpass. Why just this morning, actually Monday morning, I nearly got sideswiped by an over-anxious driver who wanted to get into that strange turning lane with the yellow diagonal stripes and head off south down the freeway to the cities.

Actually, he wasnít supposed to be there, but there he was. And I was wondering where exactly I was supposed to go, there being a concrete wall on the other side of me. In the nick of time he swerved over, but by that time there was another car on his right side which almost received the sideswiping I barely missed.

Walk across that bridge? Not on your life, especially not during rush hour, which is dragging on for hours in the morning and evening. I wonít even talk about Friday night.

Still, we have a bridge and it is connecting us to our friends and neighbors across the interstate. It brings families to our schools, shoppers to the outlet mall and downtown businesses and visitors to our town for lunch and overnights. Itís a very important link for the people of this area. We just need it improved.

I think the city of North Branch is doing a great job in trying to solve the problem. The leaders have not been sitting idle as you have been crying for relief. But it looks as if itís going to take more than mere planning; itís going to take lots of money, money that no one seems to have for us here in East Central Minnesota right now.

What is needed, is for everyone to take an active role immediately and contact the people in charge and whine like heck so we can get our squeaky wheel oiled. But do it in a nice way, please.


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