A plan to help Milton traffic

Dear editor,

The last time the southern bypass was considered, citizens found out that those on the committee had a financial investment in the decision.

Has that changed?

Want to kill existing downtown businesses? Build an alternate route and the downtown will shift to the new, more often traveled traffic pattern.

This was true with Highway 90, Stewart Street and Dogwood Drive. So, an alternate route does not help the downtown anymore than wiping out its parking or the businesses themselves with a four lane through downtown.

The one plan not being discussed is a new two-lane bridge one way heading west over Blackwater connecting at Berryhill Street.

Make Berryhill Street (not road) two lanes, one way, to Stewart Street where the Highway 90 traffic west would turn left and re-enter Highway 90 at Burger King. Then Highway 90 at Burger King would become two lanes one way east through downtown and over the existing two-lane bridge.

Now this triangular downtown area enclosed by this new downtown traffic route would all be deemed commercial property that would actually expand the downtown business area.

With these new businesses to this area of downtown, it would also help to draw more people to the downtown area as a whole, helping all downtown businesses.

No property to buy, no construction that hinders traffic, no large sums of money to spend beyond the new two-lane bridge.

Why will it not work?

Because it doesn't spend enough money so someone can make any under the table money off the project!

The same is true regarding the courthouse not being located in East Milton as close to the jail location as possible for the purpose of transporting inmates for trial!

STEVEN KING

Milton

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: A plan to help Milton traffic