Closing Second Avenue would create challenges

For the next five months, the traffic on First Avenue from 17th Street SE to Cottage Grove SE will have two lanes open, one lane east and one lane west. Have you witnessed the backup of traffic on First Avenue? People heading to the downtown area from the southeast side of the city are using Second Avenue, and Third Avenue for the return trip home.

Cedar Rapids needs the alternate Second and Third Avenue routes to alleviate traffic on First Avenue SE.

With construction on First Avenue, how will an emergency vehicle navigate this road - perhaps use Second Avenue? When First Avenue isn't under construction, even emergency vehicles have a difficult time racing up First Avenue.

If you cut off Second Avenue (as proposed for a new medical mall project) and you add more traffic to First Avenue, emergency drivers will discover additional challenges. Perhaps the city traffic department should count the number of times sirens are blaring on First Avenue.

In addition, they should count the number of accidents that hold up traffic. Don't even think about the backup you'll have from the railroad crossing when a train sits 20 minutes on the downtown tracks.

If the downtown wishes to prosper, keep crosstown traffic open and convenient.

Shirlee Strilich

Cedar Rapids