I have heard that Lewiston Mayor Larry Gilbert doesn’t think the Beech Street bridge is the city’s responsibility. I don’t know, but a 2-ton limit set on that bridge is going to be a problem for the whole city.

First of all, it’s going to destroy Maine-Line Industries’ ability to use its building. Normal shipping and receiving would exceed that 2-ton limit. Also, the balloon festival requires vehicles going into the park weighing more than two tons. And what about the Dempsey Challenge? Does the mayor realize that a mom in her Suburban carrying eight soccer-playing kids across the bridge to the park would weigh about twice the 2-ton limit?

I also wonder about the Lincoln Street Alley bridge; it looks in pretty bad shape. It has potholes in it that might compromise the deck, and there are crossbeams rotted through. I wouldn’t take my firetrucks or even my garbage trucks across that one, either.

Who is responsible? Maybe the responsibility for the canals and their bridges belongs to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

One suggestion for a cheap fix on the Beech Street bridge is to put the decking back on one of the old railroad bridges that crosses the canal about 50 to 100 feet away from the Beech Street bridge. Somebody might even suggest that the canal be filled in, but that might affect the dam and powerhouse.

Something has to be done.

Daniel C. Relph, Lewiston