Proposed project misses the mark

To the editor:

The only thing we can see beneficial to Portland in the proposed U.S. 27 Road and Bridge Maintenance Project are the planned improvements to the Arch Bridge.

It's one of a kind in our state.

The single lane north and single lane south between Williamson Drive and county road 100 North will make downtown Portland nothing but a parking lot. Approximately 50 trucks go through Portland every hour during the week — add that to the numerous pickups, cars and warm weather motorcycles, you can see the picture.

Removing the traffic signals (notice what those two words imply) will make it impossible for someone to walk across the street anywhere between Main and Votaw streets.

Why upgrade the ADA ramps when a person in a wheel chair will have absolutely no chance of getting across Meridian Street?

If that person is at High Street, they will have to wheel themselves or have someone push them two blocks south or four blocks north before they can get across Meridian Street. It's not going to happen.

The proposed center turn lane is just going to put someone in the middle of two plugged up single lanes waiting for a chance to turn left.

We don't think there is any reason to worry about the parking spaces and which side of the street they will be on, because, sadly, we don't think anyone will be going to downtown Portland. 

Rogers and Janice Durham

Portland