nutty narrows

[jasonlulu_2000]

The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 by a local builder, Amos Peters, to give squirrels a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars.
The original bridge was built over Olympia Way on the west edge of the library grounds. Before the bridge was built, squirrels had to avoid traffic to and from the Park Plaza office building where office staff put out a nutty feast for the squirrels. Many times, Peters and others who worked in and near Park Plaza witnessed squirrels being run over.
One day Peters found a dead squirrel with a nut still in its mouth, and that day’s coffee break discussion turned into squirrel safety. The group of businessmen cooked up the squirrel bridge idea and formed a committee to ask the blessing of the City Council.The Council approved, and Council woman Bess La Riviere jokingly named the bridge “Nutty Narrows.”

Why does the author use "jokingly" to describe the name "Nutty Narrows"? Is there any sense of joke in the name? What does the name mean?

Thanks !

Jason

 

[Gillnetter]

The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 by a local builder, Amos Peters, to give squirrels a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars.
The original bridge was built over Olympia Way on the west edge of the library grounds. Before the bridge was built, squirrels had to avoid traffic to and from the Park Plaza office building where office staff put out a nutty feast for the squirrels. Many times, Peters and others who worked in and near Park Plaza witnessed squirrels being run over.
One day Peters found a dead squirrel with a nut still in its mouth, and that day’s coffee break discussion turned into squirrel safety. The group of businessmen cooked up the squirrel bridge idea and formed a committee to ask the blessing of the City Council.The Council approved, and Council woman Bess La Riviere jokingly named the bridge “Nutty Narrows.”

Why does the author use "jokingly" to describe the name "Nutty Narrows"? Is there any sense of joke in the name? What does the name mean?

Thanks !

Jason

A narrows is usually thought of as a not very wide body of water. Given this, we have something that is not very wide. The nutty part refers to the fact that squirrels eat nuts. The name "Nutty Narrows" is somewhat of a play on words since the bridge is not really a waterway. A play on words may be understood as a joke in some situations. They could have named it Squirrel Bridge, but that is rather unimaginative. Since the bridge was not a regular bridge, it was not as wide as a regular bridge, Ms. La Rivirie decided to call it a narrows (narrow meaning not very wide).

 

[emsr2d2]

I think the use of "Nutty" might also be considered amusing here as I imagine that some people might consider anyone who builds a walkway for squirrels to be a bit "nutty" (crazy, BrE).

 

[bhaisahab]

I'd go with Gil's interpretation.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd go with Gil's interpretation.

So would I, despite my alternative suggestion.

 

[SoothingDave]

The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 by a local builder, Amos Peters, to give squirrels a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars.
The original bridge was built over Olympia Way on the west edge of the library grounds. Before the bridge was built, squirrels had to avoid traffic to and from the Park Plaza office building where office staff put out a nutty feast for the squirrels. Many times, Peters and others who worked in and near Park Plaza witnessed squirrels being run over.
One day Peters found a dead squirrel with a nut still in its mouth, and that day’s coffee break discussion turned into squirrel safety. The group of businessmen cooked up the squirrel bridge idea and formed a committee to ask the blessing of the City Council.The Council approved, and Council woman Bess La Riviere jokingly named the bridge “Nutty Narrows.”

Why does the author use "jokingly" to describe the name "Nutty Narrows"? Is there any sense of joke in the name? What does the name mean?

Thanks !

Jason

Nutty Narrows Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This bridge is in Washington state, which is also the location of the infamous Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which collapsed 4 months after opening, due to resonance caused by winds travelling through the narrows.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse "Gallopin' Gertie" - YouTube