Street closing means too much traffic, period

Add my voice to the growing chorus of objection to the proposed closing of Second Avenue SE between 10th and 12th streets SE in Cedar Rapids. Soothing words of promoters notwithstanding, it amounts to a giant roadblock. Workarounds like turning Third Avenue and part of Second Avenue into one-way streets sound lame and unconvincing. It still amounts to forcing more traffic onto these streets, plus First Avenue, that already have plenty.

It is hard to see how this plan squares with other goals like downtown redevelopment when it makes getting there, particularly to things like the new library adjoining Greene Square Park, harder and more of a nuisance. If the new central fire station goes on First Avenue SE between Seventh and Eighth streets as some have proposed, do we really want to force more traffic onto that street?

Planning for development should be compatible with existing arterial flow, not disrupt it.

Bryan Davis

Cedar Rapids