George Smith (column, July 17) wrote about the dangers my neighbors and I fear daily as we watch the long line of tanker cars being pulled along the western shore of Lake Maranacook, just 1/4 mile from us on the eastern shore.

We worry that the old bridge dividing the lower and upper parts of the lake won’t be strong enough to support each of the 286,000-pound cars. And, we all agree that our federal government is again terribly negligent in prioritizing real threats to our national safety.

We feel sorrow for the residents of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, and we anxiously worry if somewhere in Maine the tragedy may play out again.

Jeanne Penniman

Winthrop