Reader says nearly 200 killed on narrow roads
Dear Editor:
What is wrong with your mind, East Tennessee residents? Here is your thought for the day. See if you can handle it. Here’s a known fact: East Tennessee has the worst rural roads in America. I understand they started as buffalo trails and progressed to what they are today. You know they are too narrow! They have very little if any shoulder on them and they are extremely dangerous! We moved to Maryville in September 2007. Using The Daily Times as a guide we began to count the wrecks that occurred by slipping off the road and “over correcting” to get back on. This is staggering! Slightly over 400 wrecks and just short of 200 people killed! This is unforgivable!
Two weeks ago there was an article in The Times. It was quoting Bill Dunlap, the superintendent of our great road system in Blount County. He was grossly unhappy because we had voted down the so-called school tax in Maryville. He said essentially that his department is so hard up they will probably have to raise property taxes to help the “schools.” Folks this is not about the schools! As with most politicians schools are the best way to get all of us to pay more! This is about the $230 million the politicians have incurred in debt in Blount in the past five years. Our roads were built some place between 1910 and 1925. Do you feel they are outdated?
We better get something done about the rural roads before they kill more and more. The governor has done nothing for East Tennessee and he’s from here. So it is going to be up to the citizens of this area, if you care!
There is so much more to say about this and about “metro” counties but the paper only allows letters 300 words long!
Jack W. Dennis
218 Manchester Drive
Maryville, TN 37803
