I still can’t believe that the end is near for the auto portion of the Black Bridge, considering it is such a historical engineering marvel and may be the only one of its kind remaining.

After a 2011 mishap between an automobile and wooden guard rail, the bridge all of a sudden became impassible? This doesn’t add up to me. The guardrail issue must have opened up a can of worms.

On Friday, July 26, my wife and I were coming from Richmond, heading south on U.S. Route 201, when all at once we were at a standstill. Traffic was bumper to bumper and creeping along, northbound and southbound lanes.

Yes, it was a Friday, and yes it was just before noon and once again I thought to myself, the farmers market is today and Brunswick can get all congested.

But this is crazy, we are in Maine, not some metropolis. I thought, are we going to make it in time to meet our friends for lunch at Joshua’s Tavern?

As we moved closer, just south of the U.S. Route 201/Route 24 intersection, we could see there was a fender bender or rear-end collision that had taken place on the Green Bridge. Police were on the scene.

I looked at my wife and said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we could take a detour onto River Road and cross over on the Black Bridge right about now?”

This is one example of how the Black Bridge could be so helpful in situations like this.

I am aware it would only help cars and pickups, as height and weight limits restrict others.

But other things crossed my mind.

With the original Roebling cables still in place, the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge, which dates back to 1892, still allows bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Why wouldn’t the Black Bridge be suitable for this type of use?

The state says the three-ton limit on the Black Bridge is the minimum and it cannot support bikes or foot traffic.

Digging into this deeper, I found out that the Green Bridge which connects Brunswick and Topsham is not very new, either. Formally known as the Frank J. Wood Bridge, it opened in 1932, and I am sure it will be due for major upgrades as well as a paint job soon. The Black Bridge would be a great alternative route while repairs are done to the Green Bridge.

Is there any local interest in forming a “Save the Black- Free Bridge” committee, such as the nonprofit that was formed for the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge years ago? They implemented a fundraising campaign with $100 donations qualifying for name-engraved bricks. Couldn’t the same be done for the wooden portion or travel lane of the Black Bridge?

I think a committee could do wonders with a phrase such as, “Save the Black-Free Bridge, Buy a Plank!” or “Put Your Money Where Your Plank Is.”

The quote for removing the auto portion is $250,000, and repair costs could reach $1 million dollars, but have any local bridge crews been approached about bids?

Are there any local crane and barge bridge crews looking for work? Maybe some cheaper quotes will surface.

What would the tax burden be per household in Brunswick and Topsham if the project were funded by taxpayers ?

I sure hope there is a brighter future for the Black Bridge.

GERALD P. HASTINGS lives in Sanbornville, N.H.