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Highway 18 project could hurt property values
To the editor:
I have to admit that the roller coaster ride of the Highway 18 expansion project has been a bit daunting! There are, however, a forgotten handful of people affected by this project that aren't being considered for their drastic change of lifestyle. These are the residents in the area whose homes aren't being taken by the Highway Department.
When the project was re-established in early 2010, a route plan, purportedly down to the exact square foot on each property affected, was shown. That plan required the taking of 15 feet into our property, located on West Main Street. Although I was not happy for obvious reasons, I was assured that the state would compensate me for property values and other such variables.
Since that meeting, and after the big uproar about our neighborhood and its listing on the National Historic Register, the plans have changed. The highway expansion will begin on our block, not "affecting" our property, but widening to the south. My initial reaction was relief; they weren't going to take any of our property! Then, however, I realized that still I had the same problem of a five-lane highway in my front yard ... except WITHOUT compensation.
The current route of Highway 18 diverts (I would say) 90 percent of all eastbound traffic to Ash Street, bypassing our neighborhood. In fact, a "no semi-truck" sign is posted across the street, discouraging such traffic.
With the suggested route, most of the town's eastbound and westbound traffic will drive through what was once a low-traffic neighborhood. All commercial carriers utilizing Highway 18 will no doubt have to wait at the Division Street traffic signal, along with other various traffic.
What was once a family friendly part of Main Street will become a dangerous freeway!
Any type of compensation to the various homeowners in the areas affected by such circumstances cannot possibly negate the fact of a total lifestyle change. It may, however, help off-set the looming reality that remaining property values will plummet as a result of the project.
Of course, the general consensus of state officials I've spoken to about the expansion is "it's something you're gonna have to deal with."