Wednesday, June 14, 2006
The Louisville waterfront
The 8664 movement seems to be gaining ground here in Loouhvul, and as much as I embrace fresh ways of looking at things, I really can't say I buy into the "remove I-64 Downtown" argument. The key ingredient in the debate is the re-design of what folks here call "spaghetti junction"... a labyrinthic maze of interstate highways that lead north, south, east, west, and sometimes places in between. You should look at the 8664 plan, and then think about how it will affect rush hour.
*Added, October, 2006:
*After some mulling over, I wrote a letter of opinion to the Louisville Eccentric Observer, and it was published in the editorial(Erosia) section of the issue of October 4th, 2006. Below, is the text of my letter...
I've been reading about the 8664 campaign for several months, and I don't doubt the sincerity of the people involved. The riverfront has come a long way in the last couple of decades, and the notion of erasing the ugly interstate is compelling and romantic. I have to offer an alternative viewpoint on the matter, though, and that is one that doesn't involve traffic studies or measurements of lanes.
That elevated maze of roads along the Waterfront is one of the best places to see the beautiful development that is taking place along the river. One may say that removing the interstate tangle will improve the aesthetics, and that is true from a bird's eye view in a photograph, but the reality at ground level is those highways aren't as impressive. When you walk or bike down to Waterfront Park, and throw a frisbee or watch a concert, do the interstates really make that much of a negative impact on your experience?
An East-West interstate traveler new to Louisville, has a special view of the surroundings. If the 8664 idea is implemented, eliminating the downtown waterfront expressway, that would divert interstate traffic away from the downtown area, effectively bypassing what is our most visible asset. There may be better ways to show out-of-towners what Louisville has to offer, but the thirty second drive-by is priceless.
*Added, October, 2006:
*After some mulling over, I wrote a letter of opinion to the Louisville Eccentric Observer, and it was published in the editorial(Erosia) section of the issue of October 4th, 2006. Below, is the text of my letter...
I've been reading about the 8664 campaign for several months, and I don't doubt the sincerity of the people involved. The riverfront has come a long way in the last couple of decades, and the notion of erasing the ugly interstate is compelling and romantic. I have to offer an alternative viewpoint on the matter, though, and that is one that doesn't involve traffic studies or measurements of lanes.
That elevated maze of roads along the Waterfront is one of the best places to see the beautiful development that is taking place along the river. One may say that removing the interstate tangle will improve the aesthetics, and that is true from a bird's eye view in a photograph, but the reality at ground level is those highways aren't as impressive. When you walk or bike down to Waterfront Park, and throw a frisbee or watch a concert, do the interstates really make that much of a negative impact on your experience?
An East-West interstate traveler new to Louisville, has a special view of the surroundings. If the 8664 idea is implemented, eliminating the downtown waterfront expressway, that would divert interstate traffic away from the downtown area, effectively bypassing what is our most visible asset. There may be better ways to show out-of-towners what Louisville has to offer, but the thirty second drive-by is priceless.
