MT 43 News Articles View a Published Article

Letter to the Editor: Honoring Karli Sandidge’s Memory

 

Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor


Honoring Karli Sandidge’s Memory

Nancy Marks

Reporter

Honor Karli Sandidge’s Memory By Encouraging MDOT to Review Access on Highway 287

The untimely, sad death of one of our own middle schoolers on September 13 because of a truck-side-by-side utility terrain vehicle seems to be a glaring example of our state government’s poor connection to real life. While many folks might discuss the merits of who, when and where the accident happened, the elephant in the room is the lack of turning lanes and the way-too-fast speed limit subdivision residents face daily from the Silos area to the Missouri River Bridge. Try as you might to make a safe exit or entrance onto the highway from Springville Lane or Grand View Loop, you take your life in your hands because of the 8,000 vehicles a day that pass through the area at 70 miles per hour or more. More than one driver has collided with an oncoming vehicle because he or she could not accelerate fast enough to merge into oncoming traffic. The highway is dark at daylight or dusk even with car lights on bright. The driver must watch out for wildlife as well. In short, the road is dangerous.

As a community, it is our job to change things when they need changing. We need to reach out to the MDOT design engineers to give them our input about changing what happens on Highway 287. And keep reaching out. The contact information is: Kelly Williams, P.E., Consultant Design Engineer, Consultant Design Bureau, Montana Department of Transportation, 2701 Prospect Ave., P.O. Box 201001, Helena, MT 59620

Phone (406) 444-7964 | Email: kwilliams@mt.gov

If Karli’s memory is as important to you as it is to me, please write a letter, send an email or call the following person listed here asking for additional turning lanes and lowering the speed limit to 55 miles per hour on Highway 287.

Call once a month, once a week, whatever. Let’s get these changes made.

Signed: Nancy Marks, Townsend, MT 59644