Why no bridge on 35th Avenue?

Guest Opinion//November 12, 2009

The article on the new bridge near Isaac Elementary School (“A call to the arts: Phoenix program unites engineers with artists,” Sept. 11 issue of the Arizona Capitol Times) gives the impression to anyone who hasn’t been by that west side school that all the students have a nice bridge to safely cross over a busy city street.

But your article didn’t mention that on the west side of the Isaac school there’s busy 35th Avenue that students cross to go to school, and there’s no artistic bridge to cross over. There’s only the old fashioned way – walking with an adult crossing guard who holds a stop sign.

The money for that bridge could have bought two inexpensive bridges on McDowell Road and 35th Avenue. A longtime school board member said two kids were killed there in the past.

Why only on McDowell Road and not on 35th Avenue?

– William C. Barry, a Phoenix resident who has lived near the Isaac school for 40 years