Bruce Blizzard: Why did state create Mt. Salida in our midst?

I don’t know why I haven’t seen a letter in The Bee on this yet, perhaps the citizens of Salida, this county, and indeed those traveling through on our state highways are just so overcome by the magnificent and Disney-inspired design of the new and inspiring Mt. Salida Overcrossing of Highway 99 on Kiernan Avenue that words, and perhaps even oxygen, escape them.

If Salida did not have a notable tourist attraction, it does now. But those with weak courage and/or in need of oxygen might consider an alternate route before assaulting the glorious heights –though the asphalt aesthetics alone are worth the abrupt and totally unexpected climb. One can only wonder (and perhaps hope, pray, wish, guess, doubt) that perhaps this is not a permanent fixture. But it looks as if this CalTrans beauty has already been cast in permanent cement and asphalt. Perhaps it was designed to rise above our world-famous water table, or to allow extra height for huge almond trucks trundling off to ports and faraway profits?

Alas, like so many other ludicrous government-designed things we are forced to live with, we’ll probably never know.

This story was originally published March 23, 2015 at 2:35 PM with the headline "Bruce Blizzard: Why did state create Mt. Salida in our midst?."