Date:         Fri, 12 Nov 1999 18:13:00 -0800
Reply-To:     JeanneMaly <jeannemaly@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JeanneMaly <jeannemaly@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Organization: Microsoft Corporation
Subject:      Re: Interstates

> anyone who tried to drive cross-country on the old
> US highway system was in for a real adventure ... and many days of traveling
> through endless little towns with very low speed limits and eagerly-awaiting
> cops and traffic court judges, not such great availability of gasoline
> (especially after dark), poor highway markings and signs and directions,

Sounds like the descriptions we've heard of travel in South America!

> ... although it has meant the fiscal death of many small towns. and the

You know, Joel, fiscal death doesn't mean the end of the community.  We're
finding that having the freeway right through the middle of our town has had
terrible consequences.  Horrendous traffic, splintered community.  Everyone
agrees (NOW!) that had the freeway run around the outskirts of town, it would be
a much nicer downtown.  Some communities are now putting in bypasses to get the
mess out of town.

> construction never seems to end: Interstates I-85, I-75, I-20, and the loop,
> I-285, that run through and circle around Atlanta, GA, were started back in
> about 1958. 42 years ago. construction has NEVER stopped on those
> interstates in all those years. not once has there been a year in Atlanta
> when the interstates weren't being
> expanded/redesigned/fixed/rerouted/something.

I thought this was only in Los Angeles.

Jeanne
'87 Syncro Westy
Santa Rosa, CA