STORM2K

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/060803/kan_us59.shtml

I really disagree on this one. Your thoughts?

This happens a lot. In my region, we have one much needed highway held up because of a threat to bat habitat. An alternative route would go thru wetlands. Another alternative route would go thru prime farmland. Similiar situation. An existing dangerous 2-lane road.

In another case, a much-needed sewer system may be held up because the main must cross a river where there is an endangered species of mussel in the river.

Much of the infrastructure that we rely on today was built in previous times when environmental impact wasn't such a big deal. I hear lots of comments about existing facilities to the effect that "It wouldn't have been built today."

I don't know the answer.

In which way do you disagree? Dislodging 35 homes for the new highway, or is it the enviro wackos trying to "save the milkweed"?

Its happening around here around Greenville/Hortonville area. Hwy 15 is being expanded, but the state doesn't know where to put the bipass. They want to route it through Downtown Greenville, but residents are furious. The State DOT could either do a northern bipass or a southern bipass, which would both go through or around Neighborhoods.

streetsoldier wrote:In which way do you disagree? Dislodging 35 homes for the new highway, or is it the enviro wackos trying to "save the milkweed"?

I disagree with disrupting peoples lives and homes for a highway. I think they could figure out something new, or not do anything at all.

They did this sort of thing in Bridgewater, Massachusetts (the town I grew up in/lived in from 19 months old to six weeks before I turned 23. A handful of residents from the southern portion of the town were told to move elsewhere for the expansion of the Massachusetts Correction Institute-Bridgewater. I used to live about a mile or so from the prison.

Come to fine out (from my sister), they are closing or I am somewhat sure already closed the prison down and keeping the Boot Camp open.

In the mid-80's there was a similar flap about Lambert Field (STL International Airport) expanding its runway and, to placate the "noise-abatement" provisions demanded by OSHA, 85 homes nearby had to be "purchased" (at below market rates).

They had already built an airport in IL to take the overload, but no one wanted to use it (it still sits there today, grass growing on the runways!)...and one of the "homes" near Lambert Field served as a museum of WW II military vehicles, which had to be taken to another site for public display.

Your tax dollars at work...