WATCH: Public Comments Heat Up During Talks of New Wheel Chair Ramp to the River

SAN ANGELO, TX – During Tuesday's city council meeting a number of concerned women expressed their feeling about the new handicap ramp being constructed on the Chadbourne Street bridge.

One of the women, Mary Casper, gave a fiery speech challenging the council to reconsider the ramp.

Throughout the speech, Casper gave references to extreme sport athlete like English olympian ski jumper, Eddie the Eagle, and the Jamaican Bobsled Team in hopes to paint a picture of how dangerous the ramp will be.

"Are they not like the rest of us to go ahead and walk from one spot to another, get in their car, and drive up to the scoop or any of the other restaurants," said Casper. "That's what I do. It's a whole lot easier."

Casper also claimed that the ramp will just be used by skateboarders. She also foresees accidents that will occur during the winter months when the ramp is covered in ice.

In the state of Texas, a wheel chair ramp has to be sloped by a ratio of at least 1:20. This is less steep than the federal regulations mandate that is set to 1:12.

As of now, the ramp is set to go from the Chadbourne bridge to the Concho River. It is currently scheduled to have four switch backs to descend 40-60 feet down.

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How blessed Ms. Casper must be that this is the only thing she has to worry about!

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Surprised ADA hasn't already gotten this ramp built a long with a few others around town.  Does San Angelo think they are above the ADA requirements?  How many disabled veterans are being denied access to this public area?   I am forwarding this article to the appropriate authorities in Washington DC.  

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