Letters: Use bridge-building money to restore dams

The State has reported that the SC Department of Transportation spent $2.3 million to rebuild the bridge over Gills Creek at Rockbridge Road and that if lake owners at other dams cannot afford the $1 million or more to reconstruct the dams, the department will build bridges to restore the roadways.

Instead of losing the lakes, why not take the money it would cost to build the bridge and supplement it with money from the homeowners associations and rebuild the dams? The Transportation Department has been getting a free ride from the dam owners for years; the dams provided a free and convenient roadway, and the state only had to pave the road and install guard rails.

This win-win solution provides a public service to everyone: The roads are restored, the area is beautified with the lakes, and for about the same price of a bridge the dam is restored. To me, this is a no-brainer. And no, I don’t have a dog in this fight.