New Viaduct through West Side Neighborhood [OPINION]

After our initial story on the mayor's meeting with citizens about the new viaduct to replace the one currently in service at Clark Street, we allowed readers to send in an opinion. We will collect all responses here and update this piece if more are submitted. If you would like to submit your opinion please do so HERE. You may remain anonymous if you would like, just make sure to clearly request that in the submission.

 Opinion Submitted by Dicksie Knight May:

I attended the Laramie viaduct meeting last night at the Lincoln Community Center hosted by our Laramie mayor.  He explained to the group about the 3 routes being considered by the City and WDOT and stated he wanted to know the feelings of the west side community. 

 Three routes were outlined on a map as follows:  the blue, orange and yellow routes.  The orange route on Harney street will remove 12 houses and the yellow route via the old railroad bed  will remove10 homes and the blue route surrounding the West side will remove 2 houses and several vacant properties. Note that it is a fact that some of the houses that would be removed are historic in value. 

 It is a proven fact that going around the neighborhood on the blue route would be the appropriate thing to do because historically going around a neighborhood ALWAYS improves the community. It can be proven that when a 5 lane road goes through a residential area the properties suffer.  I hope that the city council and WDOT will take the time to study the history of these roads and the impact of what it can do to the community. 

 One comment made last night by an LRCD staff member was since they bought the refinery property they would welcome the road going that route (blue).  Our mayor cautioned everyone that the blue route would have a 45 speed limit.  In my opinion surely our city would have some control over that speed limit.  For one thing if there is a light on Cedar as was indicated I don't see how anyone can get up to that speed limit as fast as was indicated last night.  Furthermore, there will be a curve right after Cedar Street which should slow people down.  I am also thinking "Won't our city have any control over the speed limit based on the safety to businesses and residents on the West Side?  What about the children living on the yellow route??  I believe that even the 35 speed limit that was indicated for that route would be too fast for the residents.  My brother, a former policeman, has stated to me many times that 35 mph through residential communities is too fast.  Frankly, I personally can’t imagine a 5 lane road and/or highway going through the small community north of Clark Street on the west side.  The mayor admitted that the reason he kept mentioning the 45 mph speed limit is that the yellow route through the west side community is the favored route by the city council. 

 A vote was taken of the residents who attended and the yellow and blue routes received almost the same votes from the residents who attended.