Editor,

In response to state Sen. Barbara Bailey’s recent email survey, I sent the following response, which did not appear to go through to her directly:

Dear Barbara,

I would support a small gas-tax increase if I could be assured it would be spent wisely, but looking at previous Washington Department of Transportation performance, that seems hard to expect.

1. Big Bertha. Do I need to say more? With all the lawyers in Seattle and Olympia, can’t we find someone who knows how to write a contract that holds contractors accountable?

Even with all the liberals in this state, they can’t get the contractors to abide by the minority hiring rules as seen on regional TV news.

2. Washington Highway Patrol says State Highway 20, between Sharpe’s Corner and Oak Harbor, is the most dangerous highway in the state, which is their reason for the amount of patrol cars here. Yet, state DOT does not seem to agree, looking at the current state of its maintenance and considering the open, unsealed cracks that run from one end to the other.

3. Deception Pass Bridge is marginal at best, considering the current volume of heavy truck traffic. There is no way it was ever designed for the current cyclic loads. It should have stress/strain gauges installed to continuously monitor load effects and perhaps even restrict heavy truck traffic.

As I remember, former senator Mary Margaret Haugen said, “There would be no replacement in her lifetime,” and WDOT still has no replacement plans.

What to do in case of a seriously damaging accident or failure?

David Flomerfelt

Oak Harbor