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April 19, 2006
OLYMPIA… After years of
rallies and formal requests to rename the Berkeley Avenue
overpass in Lakewood, the Washington Transportation Commission
has agreed to allow the span to be renamed “Freedom Bridge.”
Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, and Rep. Gigi Talcott, R-Tacoma,
have been pushing to rename the overpass at Interstate-5’s Exit
122 to honor the thousands of servicemen and women who have
crossed it as they were deployed overseas.
“Supporters have been out here
every week, waving American flags and cheering, and I’m
extremely pleased to know that their efforts are being
rewarded,” Carrell said. “Freedom Bridge is a great way to honor
our veterans. I’ve been out there myself, and I think it’s a
small way to thank them for laying their lives on the line to
protect our way of life.”
The Transportation Commission
had asked for more citizen input before making a major name
change to the overpass. Both Carrell and Talcott sent multiple
letters to the commission and organized meetings where citizens
gathered to support the name change to satisfy the commission’s
policy. Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen, D-Eatonville, also worked with
Carrell to garner support for the name change from 46 other
senators.
“I’m looking forward to when we
can once again gather on this bridge to celebrate the
culmination of our efforts in a renaming ceremony,” Carrell
said. “It should be sometime soon.”
Freedom Bridge crosses I-5 in
Lakewood, in the heart of the 28th Legislative District, which
is proudly represented by Carrell and Talcott.
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For more
information contact Erich R. Ebel
at (360) 786-7395 |