Picking wrong time to repair Bay Bridge

August 29, 2008

It is unbelievable and sad but true. The geniuses in the Maryland Department of Transportation have decided that it is so important to reinforce the guard rail on the eastbound Bay Bridge that they are closing one eastbound lane over the Labor Day weekend ("Bridge narrows," Aug. 27).

It is not uncommon for the state Transportation Department to close portions of major highways during holiday travel periods. It has done so frequently. However, this action is almost beyond comprehension.

Do officials really think that someone is going to crash through the deteriorating barriers in the next few days? No one went through the barrier in the several decades prior to the recent crash, and no one has gone through since.

And why didn't transportation officials discover the structural deficiencies of the barrier before the accident?

Finally, why not just ban tractor-trailers from the bridge?

Autos have little chance of plowing through or over the barrier.Dennis SirmanSelbyville, Del.

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