Sorry state of the streets

Dear editor:

I think Nancy Lee Long nailed it with her letter to the editor of Sept. 11. I see roads from the differing perspective of those of us who live south of town in one of the Spa City’s “suburbs.”

Trying to figure out the how and the why, let’s look at the roads coming out of Hot Springs. Several years ago, the state did a great job on U.S. 70 to the east, while U.S. 70 the west, also known as Airport Road, is in pretty good shape. U.S. 270 east, also known as Malvern Road, is also in pretty good shape. U.S. 270 west, also known as Albert Pike Road is a mixed bag. Work on the road is underway in the vicinity of Thornton Ferry Road and the road to Mountain Pine, National Park College, etc.

However, there are many teeth-rattling potholes and worn-out areas east of that area, on both sides of the Atrium, which some of us visit often, as we have loved ones living there.

Notice all those roads have U.S. in their names. When it comes to state highways, the ones with AR on their signs, things are not so promising, although work is going on in both directions, north and south. Going toward Hot Springs Village, there is work going on, and going south, past Lake Hamilton and on toward those of us in Bismarck, there is similar work in progress.

Here’s the thing: look at AR 7, also known as Central Avenue, in its downtown area and that’s when you have your doubts about Hot Springs being taken seriously as a valid tourist destination. If you need convincing, take Central Avenue from, oh, let’s say the Bathhouse Row area going south toward Oaklawn Racetrack. As you approach Central’s intersection with Grand Avenue, it’s a sad piece of concrete or asphalt. Even right outside Oaklawn itself, the pavement is awful, and one would think the track owners could convince the city or the state to get busy.

Does the state tell the city to fix it? Does the city tell the state to fix it? Who knows? Why couldn’t the two entities work together as they apparently did on the as-yet-notopened part of the bypass that go from the bypass toward the intersection of AR 7 and 5 north of town.

If eclipse tourists are going to descend on the city, I would not expect many of them to ever return.

Jack W. Hill Bismarck