On Sunday, Sept. 13 a protest was held on the water at the confluence of the Menomonee and Milwaukee Rivers. The protest was held to raise awareness about trains that carry crude oil through Milwaukee. The oil is dangerously volatile and derailments elsewhere have cause explosions and deaths.
The Milwaukee Common Council has held meetings to explore the issue and attempt to develop readiness for the potentially catastrophic consequences of a derailment. To learn more about the issue go to Citizens Acting for Rail Safety.
The biggest concern is for the safety of the thousands of people who live within the blast zone, which extends a half mile on both sides of the railroad. However, another major concern is for the effect a spill would have on the environment and especially rivers. This bridge across the mouth of the Menomonee River in downtown Milwaukee is just one of 34 bridge crossings of waterways in the Milwaukee area. Many of the bridges are old and in need of replacement.
To see more photos from the event, go to my flickr album.
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