Letters to the editor

I usually follow the age-old advice: Keep your opinions to yourself. However, I often compose in my mind responses and articles that would most appropriately fit the opinion page of the newspaper. So, fair warning, if you don't want to hear opinions, no need to read any further.

Construction on Memorial Drive
Recently the city started construction on Memorial drive, planning to take it from a split, two-lane road with hundreds of parking spaces, to a narrow two-lane road with much more grass and green space next to the river. The city contends that this will lure customers into the downtown area and cause an economic revival. I don't believe this will be the result.

As someone who lives near the greenbelt and goes to church right at the Memorial Drive intersection, I know the construction will create months of headache. Already parking is difficult to find, and will be practically non-existent for the next six months. I know I plan to avoid the whole area and will take a different route for everything other than going to church. I think this is a shame, because I love some of the downtown businesses: Center Theater, Melaleuca Store, the public library, Pachanga's restaurant... these are places I don't want to avoid but feel I have to for several months because of the inconvenience. If downtown businesses struggle during construction, will they even be around in the fall to patronize once construction is done?

Furthermore, the construction plans show a roundabout will replace the traffic light at the E Street and Memorial Drive intersection. If this is the case, I hope that there will be public awareness campaigns to let drivers know how to negotiate the roundabout. I know there are a couple of other roundabouts in Idaho Falls, yet almost every time I find a driver doesn't understand the concepts necessary to safely navigate through. All cars approaching yield to traffic to the LEFT that is already IN the roundabout. If no one is coming from the left, proceed through the roundabout. Many times I've had to stop in the roundabout because the car approaching didn't yield to me. Or the car on the left stopped and waited and held up traffic while motioning for some other vehicle to go through. Roundabouts are only safe and quick if drivers are educated on how to use them properly.

I'm sure the city will be proud of the final result of the greenbelt expansion along Memorial Drive, but I wonder at what cost it will come? Will downtown businesses survive? Will drivers survive the roundabout? It waits to be seen.