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BRIDGE: Beach access is dandy, but what about a lahar escape route?
Last updated: November 18th, 2009 10:13 AM (PST)

Re: “A little piece of heaven” (TNT, 10-21).

I’m delighted that people will have a way to access the beach at Chambers Creek without the fear of getting run over by a train. However, 2,300 children in Orting go to school each day with the worry that a lahar could possibly overtake them on their walk on one of only two escape routes from town to the safety of a hill 2.3 miles away.

The “Bridge for Kids” organization has been working for eight years toward providing a better way to evacuate our school children and other citizens by building a much closer footbridge across the Carbon River to safety. If Pierce County has the means to build a bridge to a beach, why can’t they build a bridge to protect our children? Come on folks, where are our priorities?

I understand that Pierce Count Public Works has been working with Bridge for Kids. I applaud their support. I hope that we can be assured that the county executive and the County Council will also support this life-saving effort and help secure the funding to complete this project.

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