It's finally over, the Mineola Boulevard Bridge has been completed. Its reconstruction ought to rank with the Seven Wonders of the World. For most of the 31 years I have lived in Mineola, the bridge has been a major logistical problem and political issue. For most of that time we have been hearing doom and gloom over what the replacement of the bridge would do to the Village. Predictions ranged from killing off all the business from the bridge to Harrison Avenue, to proposals to sell air rights over the right of way in order to finance the track depressions. It was commonly thought that there would be so much disruption if and when the construction started that no village administration would ever survive the fallout. But, now it is done and it is amazing that the predicted chaos just didn't happen. It is really a credit to the administration of Mayor John Colbert who somehow managed to get the state to react sensibly and expeditiously on the bridge project.

I go over the bridge several times a day at peak times and I'm still amazed with the lack of significant delays. I know that the fight is not over, that we still have four grade crossing problems to solve. But, maybe with a little encouragement from Village residents, the Mayor and the Village Board will be motivated to reach new heights of success in continuing the struggle.

John J. Carway