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Re: Kettle island chosen as site for new bridge, sept. 5.
How sad in this day and age of environmental consideration that government authorities would consider placing a noisy obstructive bridge at Kettle Island site on the Ottawa River.
I was appalled that the National Capital Commission study has recommended Kettle Island as the future bridge location to connect Gatineau and Ottawa.
This highway route will come across the beautiful greenspace that makes this area unique.
I’ll bet not one of the decision makers for this project has ever taken a walk, bike ride, run or cross-country jaunt along the quiet picturesque biking trails along the eastern Ottawa river bike paths that run from Rocliffe to Orléans.
As a Manor Park resident, I know the beauty of this natural area because my family and I often go there and observe the blue herons and the turtles relaxing on the shoreline rocks. We completely forget that we are so close to a busy downtown core and feel that we have taken a path to the country. That one stretch along the Ottawa River allows us to enjoy nature without the high-rise condos and bridges of the bike paths running along the western parkway.
And why on earth would any intelligent person place bridges so close to one another? The next bridge crossing would be roughly 80 kilometres away in Hawkesbury. It would make much more sense to choose a location further east in an area already touched by industry and away from residential areas.
Common sense never seems to prevail in our decision making. East end politicians favour the Kettle Island option as they don’t want a bridge in their back yard. Well, neither do we.
Politicians talk a lot how they listen to the people and how they are in touch with community concerns. So why not take an extended lunch hour and check out the area they are going to destroy? Give the wildlife a wave goodbye. In years to come, your children and grandchildren will have to drive hours to enjoy nature. How very inconsiderate.
Christine MacMillan,
Ottawa
(C) Ottawa Citizen