The Haves And Have Nots

I-25 snaking through the Denver metro area sports a few classic examples of the differences between the haves and have nots.  

The above photograph features a pedestrian bridge that spans I-25 near Orchard Ave. That pedestrian bridge is similar to another one just two miles or so further south - it has a roof to keep the snow and rain off the pedestrians, as well as walls of thick, transparent acrylic on both sides to further protect the pedestrians from weather.

Drive about seven miles further north however, and a pedestrian bridge of much simpler engineering and construction comes into view. 

The pedestrian bridge in the photograph above, paid for by the exact same Federal tax-generated funds as the one seen in the first photograph, does not feature a roof to keep snow and rain off the pedestrians that walk across it's span, and the walls are little more than pig-wire screens - pretty much zero protection from the elements for the pedestrians.

Wonder why the pedestrians walking across the two bridges that span I-25 just 7 and 9 miles to the south of the one above enjoy the luxury of being shielded from the weather? My cynical ass tends to think it's about the economic disparities that exist between the two areas in which the bridges are built. 

South Denver is fairly wealthy, and very affluent. The area where the roofless and wall-less pedestrian bridge is built, somewhat central Denver, is not. 

I know, I know, you're thinking, "Why should that make a difference when it comes to the use of Federal tax dollars to build pedestrian bridges that are spanning an interstate built with Federal tax dollars?"

LOL. American class system 101, my friend. 101.