Hopefully, byway ruling will end the fighting

With a one-paragraph decision issued by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, Idaho's most expensive - and most dissected -  highway project received the green light.

For some, the decision is akin to Armageddon. To others, a long overdue solution to Sandpoint, Ponderay and North Idaho's traffic woes is finally a reality.

The Bee has steadfastly believed the Sand Creek Byway is the only logical, affordable and realistic route to move heavy truck traffic out of Sandpoint's downtown corridor.

We have balanced our beliefs by allowing opponents space in the Bee to explain why they think the byway will ruin downtown businesses and put a permanent blight on Sandpoint's waterfront.

The discussion about whether a person is for or against the byway stirs emotions and has cut across family lines. It's right up there with religion and politics.

The July 30, 1953, edition of the Sandpoint News-Bulletin featured a drawing of the proposed byway and a cutline under the drawing stated construction was expected to begin "in the fall."

It's nearly fall.

The Sand Creek Byway project has now exhausted the legislative branch of government and with this decision has climbed almost as high as possible up the judicial branch.

It's only fitting that a project of this magnitude receive the type of vetting the Sand Creek Byway did.

By asking the hard questions, by insisting on public input throughout the design process, area residents have had more input into this project than any single highway project in Idaho.

The byway opponents have put up a game fight and it is our belief the construction project is better for it.

Now it is time to move forward.

Nobody believes wounds will heal quickly and only a fool believes opponents to the project have fought their last fight on this.

Maybe now we can get back to discussing religion and politics.

• David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee.