"When I read in the Valley Breeze that Mr. Brodd doubted that the rest of Cumberland sympathized with the Rawson-Bridge neighbors, I wrote to the Breeze ("It's Our Quality of Life, Bucko!" as a letter to the editor) saying that we do.  (My only misgiving was that your fight seemed too exclusive.  Are you including the Howard Street bridge, which is the
State's second Cumberland project in the TIP?)

When the mayor read my letter, he called me to say that my comments were not entirely accurate, that he has stipulated to the DOT under what conditions the Town wants the bridges rebuilt.  One of those is that the bridges have wooden planking.  I believe he has your best interests and that of Cumberland's at heart.

I'm impressed with how sophisticated your lobbying effort has been.  If you had used the same organizational skills, with the same passion, to stop or alter other projects and developments in town over the past 10 or 20 years, Cumberland would be a nicer and easier place to live in today.  We've felt frustrated and powerless as the town became riddled with strip malls and Dunkin' Donuts shops and pharmacies.  We scratched our heads in disbelief over developments like the Ski Valley condominiums sitting just above our water supply, and most recently Cumberland Crossings, dumping vehicles from hundreds of apartments onto a street that was already terribly congested. 

In our own district, Diamond Hill, we've seen trailer trucks from the industrial park at Diamond Hill Road and I-295 using Diamond Hill as a shortcut to I-495, passing through residential areas on the way, as well as through the reservoir watersheds.  What better place for an industrial park, especially one with longhaul trucking firms!  But a new firm and an expansion of an old firm has threatened Diamond Hill residents' peace and safety. 

As I think you've discovered with state and local justifications for the bridges, there are always good reasons to build, develop, or expand.  And maybe those justifications resonate with the majority of residents, I don't know.  But we've been here for 23 years, and Cumberland  as a whole has become in that time a more frustrating, less attractive, and less desirable place to live.  Maybe you feel the same way and decided that the Rawson bridges is where you draw the line.  I hope you'll use what you've learned to help other neighborhoods in town fight unwanted development.  Good luck with your fight!"

Let us work together to preserve the beauty, history, romance and the scenic view of the Rawson Road bridges, with the waterfalls and streams flowing from Rawson Pond in the beloved Arnold Mills area of Cumberland.

On this quiet, peaceful, and restful (15 MPH for cars) pathway over the bridges of history to what used to be the saw mills, grain processing and ice houses in Cumberland; folks walk with children, run their dogs, bike, jog, and view the geese and wildlife through the area now known as the Riley estate.

Now, the RIDOT is waving its check book at this town and Mayor Dan McKee, indicating the bridges must be updated with the use of federal and state funds. The emphasis is on the fact that all this will be "DONE FOR FREE" for Cumberland. OTHERWISE, the DOT just may close down the bridges. ("That is not a threat you know, because the RIDOT has many other projects to use the money on. Oh, and by the way, there may be other projects that are hinged on this funding that our town may not get if we don't do it all.") No, this is NOT A THREAT!

The RIDOT made their presentation at a "FINAL HEARING" at the Cumberland town hall on Tuesday, June 12, 2001 announced by the Mayor's office. It was the RIDOT that even dictated the TIME of the meeting, 5:30 P.M. ON A WEEK DAY. The hearing was announced solely in a weekly newspaper on very short notice. In spite of short and appearingly camouflaged notice, some 50 residents of the area made time to attend. With the exception of one, maybe two attendees, all present were passionately against the RIDOT proposal.

Here is the RIDOT offer for the bridges on Rawson Road, which is now a 15-mile an hour road, predicated on the limit to be 30 miles per hour. The bridges will be expanded to 24 feet wide; the bridge surface will be made of concrete instead of the wooden planks that are there now. The stylish wrought iron rails will be gone. Many beautiful old trees will be removed.  Unsightly rails will be added for a considerable distance on either side of each bride to prevent vehicles from driving off the road  (AT 15 MILES PER HOUR?).

The weight limit will be increased from 3 tons to the maximum so that 18 wheelers, cement trucks, construction trailers and heavy equipment vehicles can pass over on their way to the extensive home building and construction already under way in North Attleborough. Incidentally, the DOT folks neglected to mention that this construction is based on 30 MPH specification requirements instead of the current 15 MPH.

I fear, along with many others, that historic Rawson Road along with Lonesome Pine, Newell Drive and Paine Road, will become the RHODE ISLAND TO MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTOR! More so, than it already is.

In the name of SAFETY (according to the DOT) people will now have to forego preserving the beauty and tranquility for themselves and future generations. No longer will anyone consider being able to stroll and linger on the Rawson Road bridges where there are so many memories. Now the bridges will be "SAFER" permitting heavy vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed that will make it TOO DANGEROUS for parents to chance a walk with their kids on what was such an enjoyable and peaceful trail.

Can't this town do an upgrade for substantially less than what the federal specifications require?

Why didn't the DOT mention the 30 MPH design basis?

Will the number of vehicles traveling these roads double or even TRIPLE within a year or two as a direct result of the DOT update as some projections indicate?

Will this major increase in traffic and vehicle size and weight provide a SAFER neighborhood in Arnold Mills?

Do we have to be subservient to the RIDOT?

Does the town of Cumberland need the money all that bad?

To sacrifice our heritage for an overkill of rebuilding, just to obtain DOT funds, seems to betray a commitment I, and so many of my neighbors feel, to preserve the existing calm country atmosphere for the long term BEST interest of this community.

Frankly, for my part, I honestly believe this pleasant little town would be better off if the DOT closed the bridges down and kept their money to apply to a much more positive use in our town or elsewhere. Cumberland does not need this kind of "GROWTH". And, by the way, have all of the alternatives been sought?

Wes Grant
Cumberland, Rhode Island