Transportation quagmire must be re-examined

The ITD project for the next 12 years includes:

1. Sagle to Long Bridge ($30 million or $5 million/mile, approximately)

2. Long Bridge two lane (80 million approx.)

3. Sand Creek section ($135 million)

4. North interchange to north of the mall ($30 million, approximately)

5. Careywood to Sagle ($325 million, approximately 32 miles) *ITD estimates

This totals $600 million.

With this, if we were to do long-range planning it seems to me ITD's earlier suggested possible route from Spirit Lake through the Hoodo Valley, meet up with Highway 2 along the river and on into Sandpoint. This new U.S. 95 would have limited access and would not be plagued by trying to mesh old with new. Remodels are more expensive than doing it right first. We would get a business route designation on the existing U.S. 95.

Spokane is building its north-south bypass now and Highway 2 will be four lanes all the way to Sandpoint some day. The will be the eventual preferred route for us and trucks going from Canada to Spokane and Seattle markets.

Oops, does that mean the cattle trucks will not be using the Sand Creek Bypass and taking the north exit to go through Sandpoint to get to Highway 2 and markets?

This entire transportation quagmire needs to be looked at by all agencies and coordinated. Longevity of the projects needs to be extended beyond the 15- to 20-year life expectancy.

Let's use this 600 million responsibly. Creating a long-range plan rather than a hodge podge of hopeful projects patched together.

If the 9th goes against ITD we will need to get on with better planning. This means all agencies will need to coordinate. Or maybe we should just plan on being able to fax ourselves everywhere and avoid driving.

SCOTT GLICKENHAUS

Sandpoint