This entry was posted on 4/3/2010 10:19 AM and is filed under uncategorized.
About two weeks ago in Cartersville, the Georgia DOT held another "open house" on the proposed US 411 Connector.
At that gathering, several folks from Rome came to express their support, a "revised interchange design call for a lane on the interstate (I-75) to loop around and link directly to the connector" was agreed upon, and some opponents showed up with intent to "derail" the connector as currently planned. GDOT's chosen plan is officially called "Alternative D-VE". For a map of this route, plus a detail of other design changes from GDOT, please click here.
The reasons cited by the opponents and their advocates claim that the route will destroy Dobbins Mountain, endanger wildlife such as the snail darter fish, and would be extremely expensive to build due to the amount of blasting required to push the road through the hilly terrain. These opponents even have their own website, "Coalition For The Right Road", which they use to express their case against the current road proposal.
The most significant party in this opposition group is the Rollins family, whose land would apparently be split by the US 411 Connector as currently planned. According to their attorney, Bill Barwick, the family considers GDOT's plans to be "politically motivated" and "not well thought out". Mr. Barwick further stated that the family will "continue to try and block" the connector.
GDOT's rebuttal, presented by Project Manager Albert Shelby, stated "that the selected route is the least expensive route that serves the purpose and has the lowest impact on people, businesses, the environment and sites of historic or cultural interest". "Alternative D-VE" was chosen based on thorough analysis "from both professionals and a citizens' advisory committee".
This summer, GDOT intends to start purchasing the right-of-way. Said right-of-way costs are currently estimated at US$52,000,000.
From what I can gather after reading the article and from my understanding of how the proposed route will go through a certain parcel of land, I tend to think that much of the opposition may be fueled by the Rollins family themselves. While I cannot deny that governments can be "politically motivated", I also cannot deny that non-governmental groups and individuals have less political motivation. I am not saying that it's "right" or "wrong", but politics are a part of human nature.
As for the US 411 Connector itself, I have the utmost confidence that "Alternative D-VE" is the right route and that the people of Rome and Floyd County need to have a much, much more efficient route between their homes and Atlanta (and vice-versa). IMHO, the Rollins family is putting themselves into a Don Quixote-line position where they will be doing nothing more than fighting the proverbial windmills (GDOT and the citizens who have thrown their support being the road as planned).
Sadly, the fact there could potentially be litigation means that the taxpayers would have to pay a needless amount of extra money to defend the road's plan, but I pray that both the Rollins family and GDOT can come to an amicable agreement and spare Georgia's taxpayers an expensive court battle. For the record, I respect the rights of any citizen or group to express their opinions, but I do feel it is also my right to express my views. Thank God that, as Americans, we live in a nation where we can freely and peacefully express our opinions.
LET'S GET THE US 411 CONNECTOR BUILT!!!
That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.
Copyright 2007. Steve Williams. All rights reserved.
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