As we look forward to Holly Street playground improvements, hope for green alleys and Idlewood roundabout, and stubbornly await OUR canal bridge, we might consider this discussion on Church Hill People’s News about proposed modifications of the Martin Luther King Bridge. (Click here for link)
How about Oregon Hill’s 195 overpass/bridges? Would we want to similar improvements? Or should we hold out for a bigger project to cover the 195 expressway completely, making the “highway” a tunnel and reclaim the space above?
Definitely a bigger project – the tunnel would be great idea. The city will soon have $62 million to do this with. I’ve always had fantasies of someone filling in I-195 and reclaiming three or four blocks for Oregon Hill. I think that MLK-style improvements to the existing bridges would be a waste of money. The scale is not right, and the bridges are both more usable as they are and used to a greater portion of their capacity than MLK.