Plan to close Second Avenue too problematic

Closing Second Avenue SE between 10th and 12th streets - that is like closing the street, as it is too much of a problem. Getting from Second Avenue, via either First Avenue or Third Avenue - and back to Second Avenue requires four turns (and two are left turns)!

Drivers making left turns will lead to a lot more accidents than if we keep our one-way streets. No left-turn lanes are needed on one-way streets. (This all assumes both Second and Third avenues are converted to one-lane streets.)

If people do not make four turns to get back to Second Avenue, then Second Avenue is effectively closed. Today, there are at least three lanes in each directions on both Second and Third avenues. It seems very unlikely that if that if Third Avenue is down to one lane each way that it will handle what three lanes in both directions does today.

Think of the traffic jams on Third Avenue with snowy and icy weather. Rush hours do have considerable traffic on Second and Third avenues that would lead to problems without today's one-way streets.

Recently, there was talk to widen First Avenue East to three lanes to handle the traffic – so how can it suddenly handle more traffic if Second Avenue is effectively closed?

Leaving Second Avenue open and building the PCI building a couple of stories higher would solve a lot of future problems.

Jim Landherr

Cedar Rapids