Published: July 02, 2009 02:18 pm      

Letter to the Editor - July 3

To the Editor:



Under the guise of helping to eliminate traffic in downtown Live Oak, the county and city have joined in on a waste of our tax dollars. The bypass will provide a way for trucks entering Live Oak on rt 90 headed west to avoid the intersection of 90 and 129. In reality this will decrease traffic at this intersection by a meager 10 to 15% and provide minimal relief of the amount of trucks and heavy traffic in downtown. Why would we spend $4,000,000 of state taxes and $400,000 of county taxes and $100,000 of city taxes on a road that gives such a small release to the so called problem? There are many alternative solutions to use that would cost under $500,000.

If the truck traffic they are talking about comes from Lake City they could be directed to I 10 at Wellbourn and bypass the city of Live Oak there. Another alternative would be to send them up 417 and put an on ramp where 417 crosses I 10 there. A third alternative to solve the problem of side walk damage at the intersection of 90 and 129 is to make Conner St NE a right turn lane for west bound traffic on 90 and finishing that street off for a sweeping right turn with a traffic light coordinated with the light at 90 and 129. all of these alternative suggestions would produce the same affect and cost far less.

How did the city and county come up with the start and end point for this by-pass. Why end at 72st? why not 70th st which would make the total distance a bit less and saye money. Why start at 101st road? Why not 105th road which goes up to just behind 70th and could be connected easy with out taking homes away from people.

Who owns the land at the proposed start and proposed end of this bypass?

I am totally against this bypass and eurge others who are concerned about their state and local taxes to write their county, city, and state legislators to stop this waste....



Richard Sweeting

Live Oak