(Columbia) May 2, 2005 - Governor Mark
Sanford took a kayak trip on Sunday and it gave him
a chance to also take some shots at Congressman Jim
Clyburn's proposed bridge and the congressman fired
back.
Rep. Clyburn (D-6th District) would like to
have the bridge connect the economically depressed
communities of Lone Star in Calhoun County and Rimini in
Clarendon County.
Sanford, a Republican, asked
people in South Carolina to join he and his family on a
kayak tour of Sparkleberry Swamp in the northern portion
of Lake Marion. Sanford's kayak trip is part of his
Family Fitness Challenge that is an effort to get people
to make healthier decisions and become more physically
active.
Sparkleberry Swamp is just a couple of miles from the
proposed sight of the bridge. The governor also used the
kayaking event to promote the near pristine swamp and
oppose the building of the connecting bridge that would
go across swampland.
Bridge supporters rallied behind Clyburn just off
I-95. Deborah Nesbitt was there, "We're not just here to
be standing here. We need this bridge for ourselves and
for the future, not only for us, it's for
everybody."
The congressman says the bridge would improve
economic development in the area and would not destroy
the area's natural beauty, "Their property will increase
in value. Their communities will be more attractive for
development." Rep. Clyburn says an environmental study
supports his view, "The study says in no way this bridge
will have an adverse affect on the environment. Would in
no way threaten the wildlife in the area."
Sanford disagrees, "If it's about economic
development, you could have an even greater impact in
economic development if you spread that $100 million
across a whole variety of infrastructure needs in the
district."
He also says the bridge will
definitely change the area, "I think that anytime you
build a bridge of that size, the area is forever changed
and very different. For one thing we wouldn't be
listening to the birds, we'd hear tractor trailers and
that is a very different sound."
The two men even differ on how much the bridge will
cost. Rep. Clyburn says $70 to $80 million and Governor
Sanford says $110 million. The state Transportation
Department will spend $2.5 million in federal money to
determine the cost of building the bridge and
road.
Reported by Tamara King
Updated
9:23am by BrettWitt
