The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-05-01
CONTINUED from Page y

ANCE, does away with the
proposed interchange. A vote
AGAINST keeps the inter-
change where it is now plan
ned.
In other words, cars NOV.
Ing on The north freewaY can
not get off the freewsy at
either of the streets mention
ed is the ordinance passes,
nor can they get on fhe free
way from the streets mention
ed. Present plans call for the
interchange TO be built at
East North Broadway.
This measure would not do
away with the other parts of
the North freeway.
The Committee for the Or
dinance says that The North
Broadway interchange is not
necessary. 1t is one of five
interchanges proposed to feed
a three-mile strip of freeway
and is only four-tenths of a
mile from the next one to the
south at Weber Road. The
direct cost TO Columbus tax
payers about one million
dollars would be almost
entirely wasted"
On fhe other hand, Jack
Bsehfel, City planning chief.
says that the interchange is
necessary: "1nfsrehsnses as
planned now are at a bare
minimum for safety" Baehtei
noted. Some cities with the
same traffic load for the same
areas have access points at
hsif-miIe intervals.
However the Committee for
the Ordinance maintains that
1.-THE interchange would be q
hazard TO the freewsy IL.
self; il would be too close 10
adjacent interehsnges for
traffic safety. A prime ex-
ample Of the dangers Of an
excessive number Of inter.
changes spaced too close TO-
gether is the accident rate on
Route 128, the expresswsy
that ~by-pssses ststistieslIy one
Of the most dangerous free
ways in the country.
Wilson however says that
"about 1900 cars will use the
interchange each day, this is
about $4,000 move ments,
which will be loaded either
on to the Weber Road inter-
change or the one at Over
brook il this Ordinance pass
es. These cars and trucks
will filter through residential
streets to reach an access
point, putting heavy traffic on
streets not designed to carry
it."
Proponents Of The ordin.
Anes point out that the safe.
~ factor goes even further
when you consider that
about 6400 children Of school
age live in the sres, about
half Of these cross either G.
North Broadway or Oakland
Park TO get 10 school Also,
there are seven churches in
the area"
Bachtel says that mo mat
ter where you 60 you will
find churches and schools,
traffic controls may be neces-
sary at the church or the
school for safety"
Wilson maintains that the
proposed ordinance would
mot as the proponents say
save the taxpayers money but
would cost them in the end
because the overpass at z.
North Broadway would have
to be shifted to Oakland
Park causing the center line
OF the Freeway to be moved
TO the east requiring pur-
chase of additional right of
way. Also this would demand
the relocation of the north
section of Beulah-O Oakland
Park intersection. 1000 feet
OF freeway grade would have
to be changed. Sewer lines
and other utilities would have
to be redesigned and reloca-
ted in the vicinity. This re-
designing alone would take
up to six months and eng
fneerlng would cost about
S2O, 600. Furthermore. this de.
lay could cost the taxpayer
even more money. because
the delay could cause the con.
tractor to lose as much as
year in completing the pro-
Ject and legally he would be
entitled to compensation"
Proponents say that lin
long range thinking the elm.
instion Of This interchange
will ssss The taxpayer. mil.
lions Of dollars. since withov,
fhs Z. North Broadway inter.
change, the proposed future
cross county esst-wess highway
cannot be built. This would
not be part Of The freewsy a.
The planners say. therefore the
money would come directly
from bond issues paid by all
Columbus property owners
This sssf-wsst road would b