GOLDEN
GATE Bridge District officials are stuck in a financial
pickle. The district has a plate filled with expensive
capital projects, but not enough money to go around. Topping
its priorities for more than a decade has been the much-
needed seismic retrofit of the landmark span. Work has
already begun, but the district is still trying to raise
money to complete the $297 million project. Raising money
by generating more revenue and winning state and federal
grants has been a primary focus at the district's head
quarters.
That
job has seemingly overshadowed the construction of a $7
million movable median barrier, a project that will end
the real danger of head-on collisions on the bridge. Two
years ago, after years of debate the district board approved
the barrier and said this life-saving wall could be built
within 38 months.
Now,
24 months later, the district's engineer says "there
are no funds for construction at this time." Still,
another bridge spokesperson says the barrier is moving
ahead, slowly. The district board needs to make sure the
median is moving forward at a prudent pace. The seismic
retrofit is Vital, but so is the median barrier. Every
day without the barrier, motorists run the risk of being
involved in a deadly head-on.
Since
1970, when the district started compiling accident statistics,
34 people have died and hundreds more have been injured
in bridge crashes. The fatalities from head-on number
26. Every minute the barrier remains un-built there is
a risk those numbers will rise, bringing tragedies with
them. Golden Gate officials need to put both the seismic
retrofit and the median barrier on a track toward completion
as soon as possible.
