Taking the "southern " route

Welcome to the newest project of the Great Falls planning board. A 7.5 mile "corridor" that
will run from Gore hill to Gibson Flat road. The road is meant to relieve pressure off of
10th avenue. (Stop...Rewind...restart) . Didn't we just have 3 lanes put onto 10th avenue
to relieve pressure? The fact is Great Falls may have a few hours of thick traffic a day, but
it is by far not Heavy Traffic.

The Southern Arterial as it is planned now takes out 13-21 homes in it's process. Sure, not
an enormous number, but really when your talking about a town with a population of about
56k, that's a good sized impact. 100-162 million dollars is planned to spent on this road.
With such a huge price tag in dollars and in homes are we really willing to build a road that
doesn't even go into town?

I personally would like to propose these questions.

1. How much relief is this road going to take off of 10th ave south?

2. In cost matters, is the road going to be able to pay for itself?

3. Will this road take away from business on 10th south?


Some people have stated that the southern arterial is a good move, taking bearing off truckers
and relieving traffic by elks riverside park. Lets revert again back to the fact that 10th has
3 lanes. I have seen in some cities that to resolve congestion trucks are to remain in one lane,
leaving 2 lanes for the flow of traffic.

Also currently trucks use the river drive as a truck route. Would it be possible to clearly mark an across town truck route using one of the bridges (10th st or 15th) divert trucks past walmart,
kmart and the j-bar, then back on to central? It seems a long way but really not as long as 7.5 miles.

I know I am concerned about the city just shoveling out the money from this road. We need more funding for schools and long term better jobs. I'm not against the Southern Arterial per se
but before we jump into 2 giant projects I think that the consequences need to be realized first.

South of Great Falls is some of the most beautiful property, Has the city checked for animal habitats? There is a bridge involved and river banks house bald Eagles, cranes , Swans, geese
deer, beaver etc etc. Has anyone bothered to take a trip to see if any of these animals are on the
sensitive, or endangered lists? Some of the lower areas house other habitats for fox, marmots
and other animals.

Then there is also the loss of homes. 13-21 homes the average Montana family is the size of 4
that 52-84 or more people who will be forced to leave their homes. Not to mention those who may end up having to give up some of their property.

It's sad when the dollars start flashing and the humanitarian aspect is lost.

Before building this road it is my opinion that the city should do a little more homework and listen to the voice of it's people before progressing.