To the Editor It’s summer and that means we’re in the middle of road construction season - a time that can drive us crazy before the time comes when a project is completed and we are reminded that we should appreciate things like smooth roads.
Things have been especially busy in these parts, where new asphalt roads can be found in both Lyon and Murray counties. Projects on Lyon County Road 9 and Murray County Road 30 have resulted in beautiful thoroughfares - no cracks, no bumps, just smooth commutes on both.
But there’s one thing that separates these two projects, and, in turn, these two counties. It’s the aprons.
In Lyon County, each and every apron off Hwy. 9 is covered with asphalt. The same cannot be said about Murray County.
In the seven-mile stretch of Murray County Road 30 - from CR 48, north to where the previous Lyon County project left off - there are seven addressed residences (one is a minimum maintenance road). All but one have at least one mailbox at the end of their driveway, so you know they’re used frequently. But sadly, the transitions from the highway to the driveways are not smooth ones.
There is no asphalt, just gravel. It was literally dumped off and the leveling of it has a lot to be desired. We are afraid after the winter season takes it toll by spring there will be quite an uneven mess again.
Then who deals with it???
Our question is, why? Is this Murray County trying to save money? That’s a strange theory considering taxpayer dollars go for road improvements. Does the County not care about their rural residents? We might be hicks in the sticks, but hicks pay taxes, too.
As mentioned, there are just seven accesses to residences off of Hwy. 30 in that sevenmile stretch - how much can putting a little blacktop down on a mere seven aprons really cost? We would be willing to pay a little extra for it.
Too late now though.
Again, we appreciate the prestine highway, but we are disheartened and frustrated every time we leave that smooth road. It might be just a few feet from the highway to our driveways, but it sure would be nice to know we are valued enough as taxpayers to have those few feet be smooth ones.
David and Sissa Bitton Per Peterson Lake Sarah Township Garvin, MN 507-530-2928
