To the editor:

State and federal officials have concluded that the “offset alignment” (Alternative 5) is a better option for improving U.S. Highway 59 between Lawrence and Ottawa. In my opinion, the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) supports the eastern alignment (Alternative 3B), which is the other freeway proposal initially preferred by transportation officials.

The offset alignment will cost nearly $11 million more than the eastern alignment. This is because the offset alignment will destroy significantly more homes and businesses. The transportation officials’ cost estimate, though, is probably low. Continuing development along the existing roadway means that as many as 19 more homes will be destroyed by the offset alignment than originally thought.

It is my understanding that the offset alignment will require more miles of frontage road, too, which also increases the cost to counties (for maintenance). Transportation officials suggest that the offset alignment will require less environmental mitigation. However, the FEIS states that environmental impacts are similar for both roads.

The officials suggest that more local traffic will use their offset alignment than will use the Eastern Alignment. However, the FEIS shows that both alignments will offload a significant and comparable amount of traffic off of old U.S. 59, rendering a safe county road. Thus, the transportation officials are advocating spending millions more for a road that will be used less and that will negatively affect more people. If the governor is serious about cutting waste, she should look at what transportation officials are doing in Franklin and Douglas counties.

Patricia M. Brady,

Baldwin