You take the high road and I’ll take the low road and I’ll be in Skaway before ye!
Well, good people while you are humming that old Scottish tune I read in Sunday’s Empire that the DOT folks, present and past, are obviously totally obsessed with an improbable and impractical roadway north out of Dodge!
It seems Governor Parnell has also climbed aboard and with the help of DOT Director Yost are moving forward on what both must feel is a critical Southeast infrastructure project?
Yost even suggests that past sea lion haul outs and eagle nesting tree locations along the way will no longer be an EIS consideration? Now that’s truly extraordinarily sad!
But it surely must be asked — what then has changed since three or so years ago when a federal district court judge ruled against this DOT road project ?
Has our familiar maritime highway along Lynn Canal somehow become shallower or dried up?
Have the myriad of slide and avalanche paths along the way somehow ceased to be?
Is there perhaps thought now of blasting great tunnels through mountains of precipitous cliff-face to reach a long ways short of Skagway?
Have those numerous wetlands, creeks, rivers and spawning wild salmon runs that makeup this wild country suddenly vanished, as well?`
Well no, I think not — but I do think I know what the answers may be.
It’s the developers insatiable itch to develop what isn’t already developed.
It’s the sad addiction to conquer the land and to somehow become very rich doing it.
It’s a desire to continuously feed that which should be forever wild to a ferocious and incredibly pricey and greedy economy.
Also, I do fear that state government itself manifests far more than a few of these questionable traits, traits which along with a willing private and corporate sector are duly encouraged by various members of top management and a quite willing political scene.
Alan R. Munro
Juneau
Comments (5)
Add commentpublic money for a road to the mine?
One has to wonder whether the state's fervor to put the ferry terminal to Haines another 50 miles out of town will peter out once a nice solid highway to the Kensington is built...
Only Reason
"What then has changed since three or so years ago when a federal district court judge ruled against this DOT road project?"
This letter surely is a useless piece of drivel. The only reason the judge ruled against it is because the ferry option wasn't in the EIS. This time it will be with updated info on everything else.
No need to add eight more paragraphs of nonsense to your letter! Actually, no need to write your letter at all, Al!
Really? I think the letter is
Really? I think the letter is straightforward and to the point. Mr. Munro is correct in that we have a tradition--long since turned into an addiction--of "conquering" the wild for our own purposes (which are often completely unnecessary and often detrimental).
We've developed more than enough. Let's instead work towards improving what we already have, lest wilderness be relegated to legend.
What is the real motivation for the road?
I do agree with this article and P.P. above.
From what I can tell, the real motivation for the road is to get access to shoot up wildlife in a area where enforcement is restricted. Sure, there are lots of people in Juneau who would like to go to a cafe or bar in Skagway, what the heck. You spend a couple hundred bucks and most of a day to get to Skagway and you are still halfway to anywhere. Then where are you really going to drive to? This will really go over big when gas is over $7.00 a gallon.
Truth is, most Juneau people won't use the road very much. They don't use the road they have now very much either.
I respect Alan's
opinion and the opinion of others who are against the Road. I also respectfully disagree with opposition to the Road. I value our wilderness, and even to a degree, our "insularity", however, if Juneau is to continue to be the Capital of the state, we need to improve access, even if it is a road to a short-hop ferry ride. If we were not the Capital, I would not be in favor of the Road. but we are, and I am. It is profoundly unrealistic to expect Juneau to continue in it's status as Capital without meaningful improvements to our access, and that means a road. For those who love the insular life, pick one of the many beautiful communities in Southeast - they have no road access and they are not the Capital.
I am a Progressive, but I am not against developing our community into the world-class Capital city of the largest state in the union, that it could be, if certain politicians would stop their shameful neglect of Juneau and begin statewide investment to make Juneau a shining example that all Alaskans can be proud of.
That also means a second crossing folks, as those in the know realize that Douglas Island is the future of Juneau expansion. It's a necessity. We need people with vision to look ahead toward creating a model city, rather than those who just want to vote down any develpment at all in their quest for "insularity". Of course, this is all achieved via the vote. A 2nd crossing was voted down recently. I respect the will of the majority of the electorate, and will continue to speak in favor of the 2nd bridge, as well.
Meanwhile, Juneau's still a wonderful place to live, and various members of the community will continue to voice their opinion regarding Juneau's development, one way or another. I'll trust in the democratic process. Happy Christmas Ya'll.