Metal Theft Changes Bridge Plans

Metal theft has gotten so bad in Washington, that plans for the safety railing on a bridge repair project were changed to foil any attempted theft.

County officials planned to put up the aluminum barrier earlier in the summer, said Ken Stone, the county's public works director. But it occurred to them the fence would probably disappear, he said.

Some materials had already arrived for the $20,000 safety barrier, Stone said. Officials decided to hold off and order steel fencing, which, Stone said, is more difficult to remove, crush and sell.

It would be "much better to replace it now ... than lose it and have to replace it later," he said.

County Commissioner George Raiter said the county can "probably recover" the money it paid for the unused aluminum fencing.

Policy and spending are now being affected by metal thieves. Societal devolution continues.