Walter Piehl, Minot

I was surprised by all the comments, personally, on line and by telephone, endorsing my letter to the Editor, Minot Daily News, 12/10/22 regarding the bandaid solution to Highway 52’s dangerous traffic. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, as the dangers on 52 is a common subject for friends and neighbors who have to travel that congested commuter highway. It is no small coincidence that just this past week another head-on multiple vehicle crash occurred near Anamoose when a car tried to pass a semi and trailer. One fatality there, and a similar scenario to the fatal crash west of Velva last summer. The daily commute traffic is horribly complicated by semi trucks, pulling triple trailers (even double trailers should never have en allowed on a 2-lane highway), farm equipment and seasonally, 4-wheeled slow-moving potentially explosive anhydrous trailers.

I found it ironic that one week ago in the December 10-11, 2022 MDN, there was an article from the North Dakota Department of Transportation. They are seeking innovative ideas to improve highways in North Dakota. They list 8 items to consider for innovative ideas, and safety is number 6. Wouldn’t you think safety should be number one? That makes NDDT priorities all the more obvious. I’m surprised they didn’t list saving tax dollars as their number one.

Please Minot legislators, wake up to the dangers of this highway. A few passing and turning lanes is not a solution to this congested road. Call a hearing during this coming legislative session to force the NDDT to share their complete and updated statistics for this road from the past few years. If economics are more important than safety, then it should be obvious that a 4-lane only enhances the status of Minot as a transportation and shipping hub.