Jump for Joy

Through the years the Massachusetts Highway Department has won precious few accolades on the Vineyard. From the bike path guardrail debacle on Beach Road (Islanders blocked a plan by highway officials to put steel guardrails along the path) to the badly engineered widening project at the Tashmoo Overlook, it seems as if Mass Highway never gets it right here. But the reconstruction project at the Big Bridge that has been going on all winter and will soon be suspended for the summer months is an exception to the rule of clumsy jobs. For as long as anyone can remember, the bridge has been a summer gathering place for young people to jump into the deep channel below. It appears bridge engineers have thoughtfully made an allowance for tradition in the new design, which includes a wide edge for standing on the Nantucket Sound side, that will nicely accommodate fishermen as well as jumpers. So hats off to Mass Highway for its attention to detail this time.