In late 2011 the contract for the replacement bridge between Ironton and Russell, Kentucky, was let. Actually work on the bridge did not begin until spring of 2012. This was the second attempt to get the bridge replacement started. The first design came in extremely over budget and a new design had to be developed and a new contract let.

That was at least five years ago. The United States fought World War II in just under three years and nine months.

This week I stopped by the ODOT field office at Third and Adams streets in Ironton and inquired if anyone knew about a truck route from the bridge through Ironton. The ODOT people were once again extremely helpful and cooperative. No one there knew of any.

The bridge is a state responsibility. The city streets are the responsibility of the city of Ironton.

I do not believe the city streets are built to withstand the weight of 18-wheelers. I know the intersections are not designed to permit turns by semi-trailers with or without trailers attached to their rears.

The truckers make a living getting their loads delivered as quickly as possible. For my own observations I know that many of them do not pay any attention the signs that tell them that the State Route 141 and U.S. 52 interchange is not a truck route.

How come no one has gotten serious about deciding if there will be a truck route from the Ohio foot of the replacement bridge? There is nothing that says there has to be a truck route from the foot of the bridge through Ironton. Maybe it could be a good revenue (fine) source for the city.

I am afraid that nothing will be done until the last minute and then people will start running around claiming, “We have to do something right now.”

Then they will claim it is an emergency. Poor planning and forgetfulness do not an emergency make.

We have time to get a plan in place and ask for help from our elected state and federal officials to get this worked out.

Once the streets breakdown from heavy weights it will be the citizens of Ironton who will face another tax increase to fix the street.

Someone will say, “We have been working on that.”

What committee has done the work. It can’t be done in secret. Don’t we have open meetings? I do not remember reading anything in any newspaper about it.

It is convenient to kick the can down the road and not worry about the future until it is upon us, but that is not the prudent way to handle problems.

Folks, it is now time to get serious.

W. Richard Walton

Ironton