News-Record.com

As far as asking for more roads and hookups to the "Urban Loop", be careful what you ask for. Our "Urban Loop" was turned into 8 lane, I40 bypass. We thought we knew what we were getting and it was explained to us at many DOT sponsored meetings, to be "like" Bryan Blvd. NOT! Now, with the High Point Rd, project, they are going to put a divider at the entrance to our development so we can not make a left turn to travel to our Adams Farm stores. This, after telling us a much different story. The widening of MacKay Rd. could lose us our Harris Teeter at Adams Farm. The plans for the High Point Rd. widening project will take out the carwash, McDonald's, the lube shop and the cleaners, making only one entrance for this shopping center. We would also lose our Rite Aid pharmacy. While there are areas in the city and county that are in dire need of new road projects, they waste money on widening High Point Rd. by moving it behind the old Pilot Life buildings and taking out people's businesses and livelihoods as we are in a world of stuff with the economy. We drive High Point Rd. everyday, at different times of the day, and while there are times of heavier traffic, there's no way we need all this upheaval to widen this road. The thing is, they want it to be a connector to Hwy 311. Maybe, they could take that millions of dollars and put it to better use up in the Horse Pen Creek area that is totally in gridlock and desperately needing help. Just a thought.

Gridlock is relative to your experiences. Having lived in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, what we have is not gridlock. What we have are localized traffic issues created by poor planning or no planning. We have miles of pavement that remedied past problems only to have the need for them pass by. There is no citizen involvement in the upfront planning for these projects - only city engineers and transportation planners coming up with a wish list. Greensboro residents aren't truly being given a voice in the process. We should restrict growth in areas until the infrastructure is present to support it. Would Horse Pen Creek Road even be an issue if we had concentrated more development closer into the city. Any idea as to why most of these traffic issues are on the north and west side of the city? Because the the City and developers have disinvested in the southside of the city. If the city would direct development to where it's needed most and where there is existing infrastructure (i.e., roads and sidewalks) we wouldn't need to concern ourselves with spending scarce tax dollars to feed the development dreams of a few.