Sunday, September 23, 2007

4 Lanes on 127

I see the Southern has come out in favor of this. Given that, last time I checked, only 7000 cars a day pass through the western end of Carbondale, though I expect this will increase with the advent of the new Wal-Mart. I expect far fewer pass through the northern end of Murphysboro. I don't know if this is such a wise expenditure of state funds. If there were traffic jams and wrecks on the road on a regular, or even irregular basis then sure, but to save 15 minutes drive time from here to St. Louis?

The argument for this seems similar to one advanced by proponents of the $20 million dollar donation to SIUC for the Arena and McAndrew Stadium, if you build it, development (or fans) will come

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This idea has been in the works for at least 15 years. Apparently,
many travelers are not aware of 127 and drive all the way to MT. Vernon to get on 57 then travel to Carbondale via Marion.


The dilema is if more traffic is brought through then that could be more business but it could also mean more crime.

I think you should check the figures on the number of cars traveiling throught the west side of Carbondale. At one time the corner of Main and Oakland was considered the busiest intersection in the area. I think it was about 20,000 cars a day (going both east and west).
I will check as well.
 
Expanding 127 to four lanes is going to lead to "more crime?"

This is about improving access to St. Louis and the Metro East. Improving that transportation corridor *could* very well work to increase economic development, enrollment at the University, and tourism in the area.

And what are the downsides? Vergennes is going to get bypassed? Pinckneyville will shrivel up and die?

Sorry, but much larger socio-economic factors have been at work much longer, leading to the decline of small towns. This expansion plan is not going to do much that already hasn't been done to rural America.
 
I agree with the last anonymous post. I think a four-lane 127 has been badly needed for years.

I'm not so sure your 4000 cars per day is an accurate assessment...please confirm.
 
Actually my figure was 7000 a day. I was told by a local realtor when I bought the old WTAO building that between 7000 and 8000 cars pass through the 200 block of West Main daily while about 9500 pass by the Island building on South University. I am checking with the Dept. of Transportation to see how accurate those figures are.
 
sthorne,

This was badly needed. Of course crime goes up with more people. The per capita impact, however, is not clear. Honestly, it's a moot issue in this case because Carbondale has a four lane connection to Chicago. How would it increase by getting a connection from the Metro East? I just don't see it in this case.

It would be different if we were talking about Pinckneyville. However, we're not.
 
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