To the Editor Blanco County News :
Subject: Bridge over Middle Creek just below Franklin and Middle Creek ranches.
It is my privilege to address you on the subject of the proposed bridge over Middle Creek. First of all, I am a founding member of Middle Creek Ranch (1983), so have almost 30 years of experience driving through this creek over the current low water crossing. It is absolutely, in my opinion, not a safety issue. With our dam right upstream of this crossing, only when the dam spillway overflows to the current crossing is there any issue. (This has happened only one time in my 30 years of crossing) Anyone with half a brain would not dare try to cross under such a condition and that has been the case during my history. Moreover, such a bridge would have a pronounced negative environmental and cost effective impact, i.e. disrupting the current topography, upsetting the natural ecology, cutting down existing trees for the approaches and exits of such a bridge, as well as a pronounced cost of fossil fuel and extensive capital expense for such construction.
I have been a practicing environmental professional engineer for almost 5 decades. I am ready to appear personally before the Commission to argue these points, technically and economically at your request and mutual convenience but also wanted to make the community aware of this situation.
Respectfully submitted:
Davis L. Ford, PhD, Registered Professional Engineer, National Academy of Engineering
Blanco Texas 78606
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