Letter: Special interests are shaping the bypass

Question: When is a bypass not a bypass?

Answer: When nearby business owners and politicos are allowed design input.

Question: Did you think that voting for a gas tax to pay for a bypass meant that the primary function of the design would be to get traffic through Carson City with a minimum of obstructions?

Wrong again: Money brings in all the politicos with pet schemes for special ramps, bike paths, vegetation, business access, golf course access, etc.

In an announcement of the public informational meeting of Aug. 26, 1998, it was stated that the facility will have access ramps at the north end from U.S. 395 northbound and southbound traffic. Also announced at the same meeting was a letter from NDOT which contained the following paragraph: "The Department has received a petition from North Carson Street business owners in the vicinity of Arrowhead Drive requesting at least a half interchange at Arrowhead Drive which would allow for southbound traffic on and northbound traffic off the bypass." Along with these announcements was a preliminary drawing containing a blow-up labeled "Arrowhead Drive Half Interchange" which showed the half interchange as described in the NDOT letter.

On July 7, I received notice of another NDOT meeting to be held on July 18. For this I went directly to the NDOT office for a preliminary peek at the latest design. Some of the nearby business owners must have gotten to the city fathers! Not only did they get the two ramps described in the NDOT letter but got two more in order to create a four ramp diamond interchange at Arrowhead Drive.

P.S. Roundabouts shown are "red herrings" to divert attention from the added on/off ramps.

ARCH COOKE

Carson City