Hwy. 2 curve drives comments
The Highway 2 curve drew a large crowd at a Wednesday workshop by residents looking to help shape transportation on the corridor. (Aerial photo courtesy JERRY LUTHER/CALLJERRY.BIZ)
SANDPOINT — The U.S. Highway 2 curve impacts just about everyone — and attendance at a Wednesday workshop proved just that as a large crowd turned out to give their input on the subject.
More than 50 people showed up at regularly scheduled Public Works Committee meeting to discuss the construction project that will change the face of transportation in Sandpoint.
“We really weren’t expecting so many people to show up,” David Evans and Associates senior project engineer Carole Richardson said.
Richardson oversaw the workshop and started the evening out with a brief presentation about the project. Designed to divert U.S. 2 traffic onto a connector from Lake Street and Cedar Street, the curve is a complement to the Sand Creek Byway that does the same thing on U.S. 95. The total effect would remove heavy traffic from Sandpoint’s downtown locations.
In her presentation, Richardson emphasized the importance of a connector that allowed motorists, bikers and pedestrians to coexist without conflict. She then asked attendees to write down their hopes for the project on green sticky notes and their fears on yellow sticky notes.
According to the suggestions, residents hope to see easy access onto the curve for bikers and pedestrians, solid district connectivity, accommodation for bikers, drivers and walkers, the continued maintenance of bike trails and efficient semi-truck movements.
Attendees also mentioned that the Idaho Transportation Department should repair wear and tear on downtown streets after relinquishing control back to the city.
On the flip-side, workshop participants worried that the connector could divide the town, present additional safety hazards with higher speeds and unwieldy intersections.
One resident also raised the possibility that Sandpoint wouldn’t regain control of its downtown streets even with the curve — a fear that earned particular gasps of horror.
Richardson said that the feedback acquired at the workshop will help shape the project’s future. Now that planners have a sense of public opinion, they can begin designing the connector to meet the needs of the community.
After a preliminary concept is in the bag, residents can expect another public comment opportunity in June.
According to Sandpoint Public Works Director Kody Van Dyk, construction on the connector will likely not begin until 2013.