Turn Back the Clock, GDOT

Dear Editor,

A certain group said in the local media, “We favor this route because it is 2.5 miles shorter and would result in lower construction costs.” Additionally, they claimed the route was “the most economical in terms of right-of-way, cost per year based on the facility’s lifespan and savings to motorists who will be using it.”

Do you know who I am talking about?

It was the state highway department (now commonly referred to as the Georgia Department of Transportation) when they fought tooth and nail in the 1960s and 1970s against the city of Rome, Floyd County and conservationists for the eastern route of I-75. How times have changed.

Now, GDOT is proposing to build a route for the US 411 Connector that is 2.5 miles longer, costs nearly $182 million more than alternate routes and negatively impacts several environmental and historic resources in Bartow County. GDOT’s convenient argument today is that building the shortest, cheapest route for the connector does not fit the need and purpose. Yet, bilking state and federal taxpayers does?

With this kind of logic, it is no wonder GDOT is scrambling for road money and disliked by taxpayers for being a bottomless money pit. Now only if we can turn back the clock to their predecessors’ common sense and fiscal prudence. 

Sincerely,

Darin Shorts