Editor, The Times: The answer is yes or no on the Waycross Bypass, which is now under or will soon be under consideration to be built.
I want to voice my support for the bypass, as I think it is now needed and will certainly be needed in the future.
I have listened to the arguments against it being built. The main one being that the proposed bypass would go through someone’s property rendering it useless to its former peacefulness, quietness and usefulness to owners. You do have a valid point, but I do want to point out a few things for consideration.
It has been as far back as I can remember that the government can do things against a persons's wishes for the benefit of the entire community, as it should be. We elect these people to look out for all of us. Just think about this: if you are fortunate enough and blessed enough to live on a paved road, good for you. But, it used to be a dirt road. Someone had to give up their land that they probably did not want to give up so you could have a paved road in front of your house. Take for example, Midway Church Road, St. John’s Church Road, Youmans Chapel Church Road, Ware Street Extension, they were all dirt roads in my memory. Look at East and West Horseshoe Roads. My first cousin, Harold Bennett, worked hard and visited all the neighbors on Horseshoe Road to get them to sign away part of their land to give a right-of-way to what is now the Horseshoe Road. Did these farmers want to give up their land? Probably not, but they did it for the good of their community. Do the people who live on Horseshoe Road enjoy the paved roads that cut through their property? Does the paved road make the properties more valuable? You know it does. Do visitors enjoy a Sunday drive on East and West Horseshoe Roads? Yes, they do, we all do.
To give you another example, what is now U.S. Highway 84 used to be a dirt road. A dirt road was good enough for a horse and buggy. Then came the two-laned paved road. I remember it well. Then came the point where two lanes were not enough for the amount of traffic that used the road. We now have a nice, four-lane road. Did someone give up their land for the good of everyone? Yes, they did.
If you have been to Valdosta and driven on their bypass, what you see is businesses booming and subdivisions being built for new homes.
People are enjoying what their government has done for them and what they are still doing.
On trips to the North Georgia Mountains, up Georgia Highway 17 many of the small towns have bypasses. It is not just this area, but many towns have bypasses, even little Argyle in Clinch County. Swainsboro has a long bypass on U.S. 1.
You say downtown Waycross will dry up if traffic is rererouted around town. I say if people have business downtown or need to pick up something, they will go downtown to get it if that is where it is.
I think our friends and neighbors on Morningside Drive, Coral Road and City Boulevard in Waycross would be very happy to see a Waycross bypass. I guarantee you most of the traffic going to the mall or out that area from Blackshear to that area and return from that area to Blackshear use the road through their neighborhoods. Would a bypass be a blessing to them? Yes, it would.
I saw it mentioned that the bypass would be built to benefit Bill Raulerson and his business, Friendly Express, for a truck stop at Lairsey's Crossing. I've seen what Bill builds and they are top notch and a real asset to the communities where they are located. The commissions in Pierce, Brantley and Ware would absolutely not build a bypass for the benefit of one person.
I ask the county commissions in Pierce, Brantley and Ware counties to consider what is best for everyone when considering the Waycross bypass and look at the future growth for our area and make the decision to approve the bypass.
The front page of (the January 14 edition) of The Blackshear Times (Jan. 14) has an article above the fold with a headline that reads: “PCMS, Patterson Elementary need rooms to grow.” People love our community and want to live here. We need infrastructure to allow for this growth.
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, the project would take up to 10 years in the planning stage. Chairman Bennett pointed out that the population of Pierce County would go from 21,000 now to 40,000 in the next 25 years. If Brantley County and Ware County grow at the same projected rate as Pierce County, then what we have presently could not support the projected growth.
If you support the bypass you need to let your voices be heard. We had a chance to get it approved 20 years ago but failed to do so. We let a small group of people block it then. We cannot allow that to happen again. Call your commissioners and tell them to support the Waycross bypass.
To the commissioners of Pierce, Brantley and Ware counties, do what is needed and right for our area. Support and approve the Waycross bypass.
Stanley Bennett Blackshear
