“A third of the bridges in states between Maine and West Virginia need help,” as stated in the Dec. 27 Sun Journal editorial, is right on target. As a matter of fact, 36 percent of Maine’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete (American Society of Civil Engineers, 2009). Yet U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud and Sen. Susan Collins were successful in allowing 100,000-pound trucks on the entire interstate. That exceeds federal law by 20,000 pounds. It was quietly inserted in the federal transportation appropriations bill without a single public hearing.

The bridges were built for 80,000-pound trucks.

Motorists do not want to share the highways with heavier trucks traveling at high speeds. This is a so-called one-year pilot project. The public does not deserve to be human guinea pigs in this dangerous experiment.

So, Sen. Collins and Congressman Michaud, at the behest of the trucking industry, pushed the legislation. Some trucks are, and will continue to be, grossly more than 100,000 pounds because a ticket (if the truckers are even caught) is only a cost of doing business.

This law will not get them off local roads, so now 100,000-pound trucks can be everywhere in Maine.

It is time for our congressmen to stand up for the safety of the motoring public. Allowing heavier trucks on all roads/highways is not the way to do it.

The accepted federal limit should be abided by.

Daphne Izer, Lisbon

Co-founder of Parents Against Tired Truckers

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