The question posed by Roerlof Kopman (The Weekend Sun, May 17) as to why the Wairoa Bridge (and others) haven't been widened in the past is obvious, as he stated - due to a lack of foresight by the local councils.

The question now is ‘why' - knowing that we are facing a long period of gridlock over several years - have they gone ahead and fast-tracked a clip-on footbridge likely to cause more traffic when with a little foresight they could have erected a single lane traffic bridge for use in an emergency near the site of the original bridge?

The fact that the council appears bereft of ideas suggests that the public must help by deciding at the ballot box.

B. Young, Whakamarama.