Speaking Of Half-Cocked Ideas, A Tunnel Under The Cape Fear

Yep, you read that correctly, since a multi-billion Skyway bridge (est cost $1m a week for 40-years to taxpayers plus a toll) is probably off the table, the next great idea is a tunnel.

(WWAY) A tunnel built between Independence Boulevard in Wilmington and southern Brunswick County would cost $88 million more than a bridge while likely costing a similar amount to maintain, said Bobby Lewis, NC DOT’s chief of staff.

We have yet to see the full ramifications of expanding the causeway and the completion of the outer loop from I-140 over the Highway 17.  Both of those projects will alleviate traffic congestion.  We haven’t even seen Wilmington attempt a plan to re-route traffic to the Isabel Holmes bridge when the Memorial Bridge is closed due to an accident.  Rerouting would continue traffic movement.

One can only hope that more salient thought will go into these matters before skyways and tunnels start getting built.

Wilmington Has Baseball Debate Too Late. . . Tempers Flare

Wilmington’s City Council rarely disagrees.  One could make the argument that the council needs to put everything on the consent agenda, shorten the meetings and simply vote at once with their usual 7-0 style.

But, every now and then one will actually speak out, one wishes it would be more often.  Vigorous debate would make Wilmington stronger.  Right now, nobody really knows who’s running the city.

Wilmington City Councilwoman Laura Padgett is attempting to get the city to buy a historic property on Front Street, her fellow council members aren’t as willing to go down that rabbit hole, but her feelings on the recent baseball controversy came out quickly.

“We can almost buy the house for what we have left over from the designated funds for baseball and it would cost much less than we have spent on THAT half-cocked idea.”

Councilman Charlie Rivenbark was less than pleased, “I take great exception to your comment that the stadium, multi-purpose facility, park area, etc. was a half-cocked idea. I would have expected better from you. I do not remember you vigorously opposing the process as we moved along very slowly. Quite the contrary!”

If only she has spoken up sooner and strongly, the citizens might never have had to waste so much time and energy on a truly wasteful endeavor for which we still don’t have an honest accounting.  More importantly, the usual lock step attitude has not served the city well.  Here’s hoping we’ll see more debates in the future.