"We'd better listen to the president's opinion." Transportation Minister Zhang Lan accepted it as soon as possible. And the participants did not think that the president of Wuhan University was just here to listen to everyone's quarrels.
"I have listened to all your opinions, and they are all reasonable, but I am more inclined to Mr. Mao Yisheng's point of view. At least, that is the bottom line for us to build this bridge. Everyone, please don't think that 12 meters wide and 16 meters wide
The width is enough. In ten years, the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge will be overcrowded with cars. Don’t think that most of the boats sailing on the Yangtze River now are small boats of about a thousand tons. In ten or twenty years, the Yangtze River will be overcrowded with thousands of people.
A ton ship will be like today's small boat, like a crucian carp crossing a river!" Wu Aihua first praised Mao Yisheng, and then changed the subject:
"However, the tallest and widest options in the plan are not in line with future development. If the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is completed, it will be the largest bridge in China! I don't want others to point to our spine and say, look, in our lifetime.
These man-made bridges block our boats on the river and our cars on the bridge deck! Therefore, I suggest that the clearance height under the bridge should reach 40 meters; the highway bridge deck should reach more than 32 meters.
Eight large trucks can run in parallel; the railway bridge must be able to lay four parallel tracks. In the future, the capital will build a subway, so it will be used!"
"Ah..." No one expected that the president would come up with such data.
"In addition, there should be slow lanes and sidewalks on the bridge, and it is best to have a safety fence on the sidewalk. You should know the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA. That bridge has become a paradise for American suicides! I don't want us to
On this bridge in the capital, people often commit suicide by jumping into the river..."
"President, it is not technically difficult to increase the clearance under the bridge to 40 meters and the width to more than 32 meters. However, the cost will at least double, and the maintenance cost will also increase a lot in the future." Mao
Yisheng asked a question.
"The government can solve the cost problem by issuing bonds and introducing private capital. Besides, after the bridge is built, it can also charge fees!" Wu Aihua put forward another point of view.
"Charging is bad, there is no precedent for this." Someone expressed concern.
"Let me tell you a story. There was an old man who lived by a small river and made a living by ferrying people. One day, the old man decided to spend his life savings to build a bridge on the small river to make it easier for people to cross the river; bridge construction
After that, the old man held a chair and prepared to collect a fee. The toll for crossing the bridge was the same as the toll for crossing the river at that time, which was a copper plate. However, the pedestrian quit and asked the old man: I have never seen a bridge in this world.
There is a fee, you old man can't do such an immoral thing! As a result, the old man was so angry that he became seriously ill! When the old man's son found out about this situation, he immediately demolished the bridge. After the old man recovered from his illness, he saw the neighbors passing by.
It’s convenient, so we continue to set up the ferry, but the toll for crossing the river still has to be paid.”
After Wu Aihua's story was told, there was silence among the participants. Some people were already thinking: Could they be that kind of neighbor?
"We have an old saying that it is convenient for others and it is convenient for yourself. This applies equally to the government and the people. If the government provides services to the people, the government can collect taxes; but the government has built a bridge, why can't it collect bridge tolls? Of course.
, there will definitely be no charge for crossing the bridge on foot, non-motorized vehicles, including motorcycles, because they are ordinary people after all. But for a boss, because the bridge is repaired, it is convenient to carry goods from north to south and save money.
He enjoys this convenience at a lot of cost, so should he pay some bridge tolls? As for those who drive cars across the bridge, they are rich people, so what's wrong with paying a toll of one or two yuan?"
"Of course, for this kind of toll item, the Government Affairs Council and the Supervisory Yuan must come up with a charter. Without approval from the government at a certain level, they are not allowed to set road and bridge tolls without authorization. In addition, the Supervisory Yuan must regulate the toll items and toll prices.
Monitor the usage, etc., and when a bridge or road recovers its cost or reaches a certain number of years, the toll should be cancelled!"
Wu Aihua was drawing on the experience of later generations.
Regarding the issue of highway tolls in later generations of China, there has been a lot of criticism on the Internet, but in fact this is an issue where a rising tide lifts all boats. Whether to charge or not is not the main issue. The most important thing is, where did the collected money go? Is it to enrich private individuals?
, or is it enriching a certain department? Because of the asymmetry of information, and because there are indeed departments messing around, so many problems have occurred.
Even the Golden Gate Bridge in the United States also charges a bridge toll, which is US$5 per vehicle. It is just a one-way toll.
"President, I still don't quite understand. It is reasonable to charge fees to run a school, but the government only charges a small tuition fee; but this road and bridge originally did not charge fees, but now it does. Why do you think this is a bit contradictory?
"Zhang Lan is a serious person. If he doesn't understand something, he immediately asks for advice in person.
“Less or no fees for education reflects social fairness or fair opportunities! Charging fees for large-scale road and bridge projects also reflects social fairness, because most of the people who really enjoy the benefits of these projects are enterprises or wealthy people. For example, in the capital
For a company, because the bridge or railway has been built, its goods have to save a lot of cost and time to reach Jiangbei than in the past, which is calculated as profit. It has gained special profits because of this bridge.
Should I pay a fee? Obviously I should! Of course, ordinary people can walk on the bridge without paying a fee, which also reflects social fairness! I think this truth is very simple."
"So, is there any difference in tolls for vehicles crossing the bridge?" Yu Youren, Inspector General of the Supervisory Yuan, also participated in today's meeting.
"There is no difference between people, only differences in vehicle types; for example, vehicles can be divided into three categories: large cars, medium cars, and small cars; they can also be further divided. Even if I cross the bridge by car, I have to pay the same fee.
"Wu Aihua was speechless when he said this. He knew what Yu Youren meant by his question.
In later dynasties, the regulations that exempted certain vehicles from tolls were actually caused by the idea of "privilege". Its direct effect was not to save a few dollars, but to corrupt the social atmosphere.
Everything you do has a cost; everything you do requires the cooperation of other departments in society; enforcing special regulations and privileges is tantamount to placing yourself on the opposite side of society.
"President, you just mentioned road tolls. Now while you are here, tell us about it. For example, is there a toll on every road?" Zhang Lan, the Minister of Transportation, said carefully.
Wu Aihua was even more speechless. Why do these people stick to such details? It is true that China is still very backward. Road tolls seem to be detrimental to economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood. But if there are no tolls, this traffic problem will most likely drag the country back.
leg.
"Not every road has tolls, let alone every bridge!" Wu Aihua first determined his position, "According to the development trend of highway transportation, in the future society, there will definitely be a large number of cement pavements.
It is a high-grade road that is characterized by a highway. This kind of road can be called a highway. This kind of road must collect tolls. At present, Germany already has such a road connecting Cologne and Bonn. In addition, a two-way four-lane cement road
, we can call them first-class highways, and such roads should also be tolled. In addition, tolls should not be charged for secondary roads with two-way two-lanes and auxiliary roads, and roads below them."
“Everyone should remember that my advocacy of road and bridge tolls is a temporary measure to speed up transportation construction when there is a serious shortage of construction funds. Because tolls are profitable, private capital investment can be accepted. But when
When the country has developed to a certain level and has money to build roads, especially high-grade highways, this charging model will have to be changed. For example, we can collect construction funds through vehicle and vessel use tax, purchase tax, fuel tax, etc.
.”
"Thank you, President, thank you, President." Not only Zhang Lan, but also Mao Yisheng also understood what Wu Aihua meant. Especially Mao Yisheng, he was even more happy. As a bridge expert and civil engineering expert, what he wanted to do most
There is nothing better than designing and building more permanent bridges on large rivers. President Vo Aihua's method finally put his dream into practice.
Inviting Mao Yisheng to serve as the chief expert of the National Technology Bureau and the chief engineer of the Ministry of Transport has shown that Wu Aihua values Mao Yisheng as a doctor of bridge engineering. The Qiantang River Bridge he designed and has been built has a design life of only 50 years.
The bridge is still standing on the Qiantang River after 76 years of use. It was praised by later generations of netizens as "a strong bridge". This in itself is an affirmation of Mao Yisheng's level and integrity.
"President, after the Capital Yangtze River Bridge is completed, it will become the world's largest bridge and will definitely shock the world!" Construction Minister Liang Shuming excitedly slapped Wu Aihua.
"That's what Minister Liang said. However, what I prefer is that China becomes the world's most powerful country! That will truly shock the world!" Wu Aihua said casually.
"Ah, No. 1 in the world?" Everyone, including Premier Zhou Enlai of the Government Affairs Council, was intimidated by Wu Aihua's "bold words".
"Haha, being number one in the world is so terrifying, or is it so difficult?" Wu Aihua remembered that outside the National Defense Forces, he had rarely talked about national ideals like this. However, he quickly came back to his senses, "
Everyone, I am willing to work with you for twenty years to build China into a modern country with the largest territory, the most powerful military, and the richest people's lives in the world, so that all nations in the world need to look up to it!" Wu Aihua glanced at it!
Everyone looked at each other and said firmly.
"President, when I was young, I once said a sentence, study for the rise of China; now, I also want to say a sentence, fight for the rise of China! I am willing to use this sentence to encourage you all!" Zhou nl is
A true patriot, hearing such firm words from Wu Aihua made his blood heat up again.
"Okay, okay, okay!" Wu Aihua said the word "good" three times in a row, "The words of Duke Zhou have touched my heart! As long as you don't dislike it, I am also willing to use the words of Duke Zhou to encourage you.
!At the same time, I suggest that Zhou Gong's "Read for the rise of China and fight for the rise of China" should be included in the educational content of schools at all levels and as the country's requirements for the young generation. The young generation should always remember their ancestors.
, how they fought hard to rejuvenate the Chinese nation back then!"