Letters To The Editor
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 10:46 AM PST
Traffic light needed at
interchange bridge
Four years ago, on Oct. 27, 2005, my husband, Dr. Ian Duncan, was involved in a fatal accident on the bridge over the freeway by the state park. This summer, the new, “safer” bridge was completed. Now, the visibility from both exit ramps gives drivers a view only as far as the top of the bridge (actually even less because the guard rail blocks the view of cars as they come over the bridge). Previously, the distance a driver could see to their left, down Oregon Street, from the top of the exit ramp as you are heading north was 4⁄10 of a mile. Now, it is less than 1⁄10 of a mile. Trucks still continually pull out in front of oncoming traffic, sometimes bringing drivers to a dead stop, as the truck drivers struggle to turn and gain momentum as they climb up hill on the bridge. They know we have to give in to them as they are much larger, and our cars are no match for them. If you remember the photo of Ian’s crumpled car that was on the front page of the Argus the day after the accident, you will know what I mean. I was told by someone in the ODOT office that the wiring for traffic signals was installed when the bridge was built. Traffic lights are the only hope drivers of cars have of maintaining a safe right of way on this extremely heavily traveled bridge, especially during the day when we cannot see the glow of oncoming head lights. I was also told that there are no immediate plans to install the signal lights. Why not? Do more people have to be injured or killed on this beautiful, new, “safer” bridge before the lights are installed? Let us hope not. ODOT! Please install these traffic signals so that no other family has to go through the loss of losing a loved one like my family has suffered.
Teresa L. Duncan
Ontario
More awareness needed about lung cancer
Editor,
There is another cancer, a cancer that is so deadly it kills more people than breast, colon, prostate and kidney cancer combined. It kills nearly twice as many women every year than breast cancer. Around the world it annually affects millions of victims and their loved ones.
Yet, we don’t hear about this awful cancer very often. How strange. Especially since it is the No.1 cancer killer in America. So, why don’t we know more about it? The answer — it’s because so many people view it as the “Shame on you!” cancer.
We don’t want to talk about it. We shun it. Well, this cancer is real. Only 15 percent of its victims have a five-year survival rate. Of that number, 10 percent might make it to 10 years. After that, there are no statistics.
Moreover, this cancer and its treatment ravishes its victims so thoroughly that survivors must tolerate an altered life style and weakened physical skills for the rest of their lives. This cancer is lung cancer.
Know the most common symptoms. See your doctor immediately if you are experiencing: coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, pain in chest, shoulder and/or upper back, coughing up blood, hoarseness.
November is lung cancer awareness month. For more information, contact the Lung Cancer Alliance, www.lungcanceralliance.org, or call: (800) 298-2436.
Ellen West Lilja, nine-year lung cancer survivor
Albany, Ore.
