Highway 100 extension ignores residents

Consideration of the proposed extension of Iowa Highway 100 in Cedar Rapids from its termination at Edgewood Road ignores hundreds of families residing on the north and south sides of the current highway, particularly from Center Point Road west to Edgewood Road. Additionally, the proposed extension would deleteriously affect hundreds more homeowners who live beyond Edgewood Road on its planned route to join route 30 west.

A Gazette editorial on April 19, in supporting the Highway 100 extension, stated: “The $150 million extension [of Highway 100] would relieve traffic pressure on I-380, which is increasingly congested and dangerous. More than 7,000 trucks a day barrel through, many serving our huge corn processing industry.”

Many believe this 40-year-old Highway 100 plan is outdated, given the extraordinary residential development that has taken place north and west of the city since the plan's inception. It is difficult to imagine that any residents living west of I-380 and adjacent to Highway 100 extension want 7,000 trucks passing near their homes. Further, not a few would argue this plan should be replaced with a new plan, one far north.

This calls for action by the city, county, state Department of Transportation, as well as federal agencies, to work with residents to minimize impact to quality of life and property value.

Robert M. Nicholson

Cedar Rapids