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editorials THE HERALD-SUN |
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Honor this compromise Jan 20, 2003 Last year, Durham Mayor Bill Bell worked out what we have dubbed the compromise of 2002. Bell persuaded different groups that are normally opposed on the Eno Drive issue to agree on a schedule for building several traffic projects in the eastern part of Durham. At a recent meeting of the regional Transportation Advisory Committee, several community members expressed doubt that the state Department of Transportation would honor the compromise. The DOT could make a lot of Durham residents happy, and help move this process along, if it would send a signal that it will honor the compromise. The final Transportation Improvement Plan, which we hope will include the compromise, still needs final federal and local approval. Local officials also will negotiate the final TIP with the state DOT. Under the terms of the Bell compromise, the East End Connector, joining U.S. 70 with the Durham Freeway, would come first. U.S. 70 then would be widened to the Wake County line, and Interstate 85 would be widened from U.S. 70 to Red Mill Road. After those projects were completed, the Northern Durham Parkway (formerly Eno Drive) would be built. The parkway when finally completed would run from U.S. 70 at the Wake County line to Glenn School Road north of Interstate 85, then run along Old Oxford Highway and Snow Hill Road, ending finally at Roxboro Road. Durham is long overdue for transportation links in this part of the city and county to support industrial and economic development and residential growth. This compromise would get the process started at long last. Durham needs to present a unified front on this compromise, and the DOT needs to honor it. Click here for more information on Eno Drive |