After reading Mr. Turpin's letter on the proposed prosperity of Interstate 3, I will have to agree with him that his dimension of thought is skewed. At first I thought that perhaps he had either not seen the statistical data on interstate highways or that he is on ”the payroll.“ A third explanation could be that since the U.S. Congress and the Federal Highway Administration has said that interstate highways don't guarantee economic prosperity, and more often than not have a negative effect on smaller communities (cities under 25,000 people), that he is an ultra-liberal and speaks out against everything that the government says.

Whatever the reason, I am glad that he has the fortitude to speak his mind.

Unlike Mr. Turpin, Congressman Charlie Norwood has stated that the subject is not open to public opinion and that he will not talk about it until the feasibility study is done. Federal guidelines on feasibility studies state that public opinion is required. On Aug. 11, Congressman Norwood did have a private meeting about Interstate 3 and other issues with political leaders in Toccoa and a reporter from The Toccoa Record was denied access. What is he hiding?

I told my wife, ”Special interest lobbyists don't cut down millions of trees for the next generation, they do it for themselves.“

On Aug. 18, Congressman Norwood was quoted in the White County News€Telegraph as saying, ”Nobody knows where that road is going and that's an absolute fact.“ All we really know is that it might be somewhere between Alabama and the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Turpin, if reason loses out, at least we know that Norwood and Senators Isakson and Chambliss can count on you to move your family out so they can put the interstate through your property. You should be looking in your mail for the letter of eminent domain.

I have spent the last three weeks helping out my brother on two construction jobs just inside of the perimeter in Dekalb County. Twice in the last three weeks, Interstate 85 southbound has been totally shut down due to accidents. The last time it took me one-and-a-half hours to go two miles. Northbound was riddled with accidents and delays as well. Oktoberfest traffic looks tame compared to that. White County does need major improvements to its highways, but as long as these boondoggle projects like Interstate 3 keep popping up, the money to make real improvements will not come.

As far as free highways, Mr. Turpin, your neighbors are actually paying for them every time they fill up their gas tanks and in other little ways here and there. I would rather pay less for gasoline and use the rest of the tax money on economically viable projects. If you end up being correct about tourist wanting to camp, fish and hunt next to an interstate highway, then I apologize and the Congress should go ahead with plans to fill up the Grand Canyon and build a highway there, too.

On a personal note, I like the Richard Russell Scenic Highway. My wife and I have gone up there on many occasions to see sunsets, sunrises and snow.

Roger Williams
White County

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Citizens Speak Letters-to-the-Editor and Editorial Opinions from the Regional and National Press and individuals' letters to the Stop I-3 Coalition

Spend some of gas tax money on economically viable projects

Citizens Speak
Letters-to-the-Editor and Editorial Opinions from the Regional and National Press
and individuals' letters to the Stop I-3 Coalition