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Building I-98 would be good for area

Posted 10/20/11

To the Editor: Unlike the author to Sound Off (“Forget Rooftop, fix Route 11,” Oct. 5-11), I will include my name and address. YESeleven wants to fix Route 11. How do you fix an antiquated …

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Building I-98 would be good for area

Posted

To the Editor:

Unlike the author to Sound Off (“Forget Rooftop, fix Route 11,” Oct. 5-11), I will include my name and address.

YESeleven wants to fix Route 11. How do you fix an antiquated system?

It was good in the 1940s and 50s. Everyone who buys something in Northern New York is paying a premium on each item because of its distance from an interstate.

This interstate would cost billions; Federal money which would be paid out to landowners, construction companies and workers.

Some of these workers would be local people who would have good paying jobs to support themselves and families. Others will be staying in our motels, eating in our restaurants, buying items in our stores and gas stations, contributing to the local economy.

The writer mentions it would harm local farms. Have they traveled the local roads? What farms? The economy has already destroyed most family farms. The other family farms are dying.

Along Rt. 11 they are being broken up into building lots to increase the congestion. I believe we have quite a lot of woods just south of us called the Adirondack Park. Thousands of cars travel north and south on Rt. 11.

How many will stop at a business on the spur of a moment? One in 1,000? Some people will stop at local stores and convenience stores. Who are these people? They are 99 percent locals, getting gas and some coffee or some milk or supplies to take home.

Why inconvenience 999 for the sake of one? The rest are traveling to our colleges and have already gassed up.

The people who are going to stop, are going to stop anyways [sic] for gas or food. The rest are just inconvenienced by the massive holdups and traffic lights. Route 11 through Fort Drum, Philadelphia, Gouverneur, Canton, and Malone is a disgrace in this day. Is the writer a business owner? How does it feel to see all those cars going by and not stopping?

There’s a reason for it. They’re going to work or school or going home. Making passing lanes will not solve the problem. These lanes will become speeding areas which will increase the danger on Rt. 11 and more of us will die!

Writer, you wake up and use your head for more than a hat rack!

Dwayne L. Martin

Gouverneur