Is it possible to "BRIDGE" the gap

I read David Huton's story (Heritage Backers Fight Myths SP Sat Sept 25) with an every increasing disgust for those that continue to expound an affinity for the Traffic Bridge as if it holds the key to our existence.  Lenore Swystun is quoted as saying " In today's world, (bridge restoration) is not that difficult...", but Dave Denny puts it like it is when he says "Right now people are talking an old bridge that will be fixed, but really, all of the options are new bridges."  So what are Lenore Swystun and the Heritage people really trying to save a couple of girders??  If they want to fight the myths then the should be honest about the fact it is impossible to provide an accurate budget for a restoration, just ask Ken Achs and the attempt he made to save the KG. I heard it cost him a shit load to keep the little there is of the old building, just to call it a restoration. At $27 million there would be no wiggle room for all the "hidden" costs associated with a restoration of this magnitude. If it is heritage these people are trying to preserve then maybe a total removal of the bridge and returning the river bank back to its original state would be better suited.  And to answer Lenore's comment that "People are saying, Maybe this is just the way we are.  We're headed in the way that we just knock things down here and wondering why do we keep doing this?"  Well Lenore it's because you and your Heritage group want to save everything as long as you're not the one paying the bill.  There is a reason you are a "failed" Mayoralty candidate.  But given the state the bridge is in we can probably thank mother nature for bringing it down, as I suspect a collapse once we get a good snow storm and add more dead weight than it can handle. 

And with a new bridge in place our great grandchildren will be able to point and say "wow am I glad they didn't keep that old piece of junk around."  And no they won't be pointing at the bridge!!