Clearly something is wrong with project

I've never had a strongly held position on the bypass. My major interests are that whatever we do, it actually relieves Sandpoint's traffic congestion, focuses on the near- and long-term and be environmentally sound.

This project has been on the drawing boards for over 50 years. One doesn't need to be a rocket scientist, civil engineer or environmental expert to know something is wrong. Fifty years and we can't get the job done? With polls showing majority support, we can't get the job done? With virtually unanimous support from interested state and local political figures, we can't get the job done?

Then we have the finger pointing. Idaho Transportation Department and Rep. George Eskridge say it's the Corps of Engineers. Bypass opponents say it's ITD. I couldn't begin to tell you who's at fault.

What I can tell anyone who cares is that there's a problem. Whatever that problem is, it's one that hasn't been solved by political pressure, because there's been plenty of that. It hasn't been solved by public opinion; we've seen plenty of that. It hasn't been solved by collaboration between federal and Idaho agencies; have we seen any of that? We can only hope that all the parties involved will open up the process to objective scrutiny and collaborative efforts so the solution will be good for both Sandpoint and the environment. If the proposed project is not workable it would be nice for the major players to tell us. Clearly something is wrong.

Better to do nothing than the wrong thing.

BOB WYNHAUSEN

Sandpoint