Inquirer: Don't worry, lights will be installed for new bridge

Way back in 2009, the old Brown Avenue Bridge was in such bad shape, they stopped letting heavy trucks and buses go over it. It was that bad off.

But that's all fixed now. It took more than two years and about $5.6 million, but a shiny new bridge was opened to great fanfare in late March. There was music, distinguished speakers, a happy crowd, a large ribbon and one of those huge pairs of scissors with which to cut it.

But there were no streetlights to ceremonially turn on, and there still aren't. This is a shortcoming a couple of Con

cerned Readers have brought to my attention.

A woman who asked me to not use her name said she walks across the bridge frequently and her children ride their bicycles over it, too.

"But I make sure I'm back across it by dark, and I tell my boys they better be, too, because it gets so dark you can't see a thing," she said.

One of the dignitaries at the bridge opening ceremony was Sam Wellborn, Columbus' longtime representative on the Georgia Department of Transportation board.

I called Wellborn on Friday and he explained that, while the bridge was a DOT project, installing lighting was not part of the deal.

But Wellborn said the city has recently received the lighting equipment and should be installing it soon.

"Lighting wasn't part of the DOT contract," Wellborn said.

"But the city is coming along right behind us with the lights."

This should make our Concerned Mother feel better about the kids on the bridge (but I'd still hope they'd be home by dark).

Update

Well, this is awkward.

I got a voice mail from a Concerned Reader:

"I called you recently about a house on 42nd Street that has been vacant for some time. It was overgrown and not being taken care of. It was a real eyesore," he said. "I didn't see anything about it in the paper, but I still want to thank you, because someone showed up and cut back the overgrowth and it looks much better. The house still isn't much to look at, but at least the yard is cut."

Again, this is awkward, because I don't recall the original voice mail, and have no idea who is responsible for getting things straightened up. But I'm always glad to take credit.

Seen something that needs attention? Contact me at 706-571-8570 or mowen@ledger-enquirer.com. Even if I don't do anything about it, you never know what might happen.

This story was originally published August 16, 2015 at 9:08 PM with the headline "Inquirer: Don't worry, lights will be installed for new bridge ."