Many reasons to keep Second Avenue open

We remain unconvinced that Second Avenue should be closed in order to build a medical mall and hope that the City Council will consider the following:

l There has been no formal discussion of the high cost of designing and moving all the utilities. Who will pay for these expenses?

l Likewise, who will pay the high costs of designing and building reconfigured intersections and storm sewers?

l What will happen to the cross traffic from 12th Street (the extension of Center Point Road)?

l The traffic count cited by the engineers was taken recently, at a time when the downtown has not recovered from the devastating flood of 2008.

l With revitalization efforts under way, not only will the city's center improve but the population of Cedar Rapids will increase. We need to plan long term and have good transportation arteries connecting both sides of the river.

l This is an important decision as such a street closure will be practically permanent. Once built upon, Second Avenue will never be open again.

The medical mall can be built without jeopardizing patient care or closing Second Avenue.

Ted and Tish Healey

Cedar Rapids