Is anyone listening to bypass concerns?

On June 3 the Idaho Transportation Department held a "hearing" on the Sand Creek Byway but was anyone listening? Unfortunately, testimony was not allowed on the important issue of whether the route should go up Sand Creek or west of town, where it would be safer and have less impact on the natural wonders of our community.

According to ITD, that issue was resolved years ago. The purpose of the hearing was to display lTD's $10.7 million engineering design and to "hear" testimony on changes since 1999.

The hearing was well orchestrated to suppress opposition. Those wishing to testify had to do so in private, before a designated hearing officer.

As a result of this secret testimony, there was no public record and no chance for a dissenter's remarks to resonate with others.

Oh well, no use crying over spilled milk. The weather's beautiful and it looks like we're heading for another picture perfect summer; just what many of us came here for. We better enjoy it because it will be our last summer in Sandpoint, as we know it.

Starting this fall, some 64,000 dump truck loads of fill will be hauled through town and dumped into Sand Creek to form the base for the new byway. Over the next 3-4 years, thousands more loads of concrete and construction material will follow.

When the dust finally settles, what will we have? Our own freeway. Whoopee. Just what many of us came here to avoid. Meanwhile, we will have lost some of our small-town charm and perhaps some downtown businesses that don't survive the construction chaos.

And, in actuality, the dust never really will settle. It will continue to hang over our community like an incense tribute to the trucker gods.

LOU GOODNESS

Sagle