Applewood kids walking to middle school need wake 5 minutes earlier than forebears to navigate new extended footbridge ramp

Students walking to Allan A. Martin Middle School in Applewood will need to set their alarms a bit earlier, as the new footbridge ramp spanning the Queen Elizabeth Way has slightly extended their morning commute. The recently constructed ramp, designed to improve accessibility and safety, adds an estimated five minutes to the journey on foot compared to the direct path used by previous generations.

While the new ramp offers smoother access and enhanced safety, especially for younger and differently-abled students, some are finding their mornings just a little tighter. “It's longer, but the bridge looks cool now," said one 6th grader, trying to see the bright side. With the change, parents are encouraging their kids to adjust their wake-up times to stay punctual, embracing the modernized route as a small price to pay for the added safety.

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FURTHERMOREOVERKILL

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G Papa Tango, please tell us a story about a walking bridge and a troll and middle school students.

There once was a footbridge in Applewood that stretched high over the roaring lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Way. This bridge, with its newly extended ramp, became a daily path for the brave students of Allan A. Martin Middle School. But as the students soon discovered, it wasn’t just a bridge of steel and concrete—it was home to a troll.

The story goes that long ago, when the bridge was first built, the troll took up residence beneath it. No one knew why it stayed there, but everyone agreed on one thing: it was grumpy. For years, students walked to school blissfully unaware of its presence, but after the bridge's recent expansion, the troll began to stir.

One chilly autumn morning, as a group of kids made their way across, a low, growly voice rumbled from beneath the ramp: "Who dares walk on my bridge without permission?" The students froze. The troll, they had heard in legends, loved riddles and demanded a test of wits from anyone crossing over its domain. Failure would mean getting stuck halfway to school with a troll-sized problem.

Up stepped a bold 7th grader, known for their love of puzzles. "We just want to get to school. But if you insist on riddles, let's hear one," they said.

The troll chuckled, delighted. "Very well, young scholar. Answer this, and you may pass: What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?"

The student grinned. “That’s an old one! The answer is a human being. As a baby, we crawl on all fours, as adults we walk on two legs, and in old age, we use a cane to help us walk, making three.”

The troll scowled. “Clever. You may pass—for now.”

Word of the troll spread quickly, and every morning students gathered at the footbridge, ready with their riddles and rhymes, their laughter echoing as they outwitted the cranky creature. But secretly, the troll enjoyed the game. After all, it had been bored for decades with nothing but traffic to listen to.

Soon, the legend of the troll under the Applewood bridge became part of school folklore.

Students looked forward to the daily challenge, and the bridge that once seemed like a longer walk turned into a grand adventure. In a way, the troll became a guardian of the bridge, making sure only the sharpest minds passed over. And every time a student bested the troll, it gave a grumble of approval.

Though no one ever saw the troll, they all knew it was there, waiting with another riddle, ready to test the next wave of students.

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