To the editor:

There is nothing wrong with the center turn lane on 23rd Street between Louisiana and Iowa. A center turn lane is exactly what is needed for a street lined with small businesses. Hard medians frustrate drivers having to negotiate through parking lots and driveways trying to figure out how to get back on the street headed in the right direction.

The real problem with 23rd Street is the lack of a bypass. Currently, out-of-town traffic, trucks and hazardous materials cargo travel down 23rd Street. The vehicle emission levels on this stretch of road are probably as high as Los Angeles during a traffic jam.

So, do we continue to be plagued with traffic congestion, emissions pollution and the threat of an in-town catastrophe regarding hazardous materials, or do we build a bypass? If there are any questions about building roadways through wetlands, check with Louisiana or Florida.

Stephen Turner,

Lawrence