Mercury letter re rivers and bridges

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Please have a look below at my letter to the editor of the Guelph Mercury that appeared in today’s paper. Is it possible to ensure that future work on bridges will not include concrete walls that block the view of the river for the thousands of residents that cross the river every day?

Many thanks, DS

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Rivers are too important to be hidden by concrete

July 07, 2009
Dave Sills

Dear Editor – Re: City Has Lost Sight of Its Waterways — June 24

Greg Mercer hits the nail on the head in this article when he says our cherished rivers “should be a bigger part of our urban landscape.”

The city should be doing all it can to ensure our rivers are always front and centre, and not hidden behind plazas and concrete.

I was particularly disappointed with the recent reconstruction of two of Guelph’s major bridges, one over the Eramosa River on Victoria Road and another over the Speed River on Eramosa Road. In both cases, metal rails were replaced by concrete walls, cutting off the view of the river as vehicles pass over these bridges.

“Out of sight, out of mind” is not a good thing in a community where water resources are so important.

I hope that when the next bridge projects come up, the city is much more careful about how our river views are treated. Why not do more to celebrate our rivers by creating unique bridges that enhance our ability to keep in touch with their daily and seasonal rhythms?

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