Highway North is top County priority

I was very disappointed when we read the March 1 article concerning “Highway North” by Debra Sund of the Bangor Daily News staff. I quote: “Economic survey on proposed highway produces mixed results… A preliminary economic analysis of a dozen routes for a new north-south highway in Aroostook County has found that few of the proposals would benefit a high percentage of the region’s businesses.”

If we survey the people from the proper areas these evaluations and results are far from the truth. As we see it, the survey represents the views of the fortunate that already have their Highway or are living close to a highway. Why should we survey those people at all and most importantly, why should they define and control our destiny? It is indeed very discriminatory, unfair and very insulting to us and such injustice should be strongly challenged.

The news report further states that the results were presented by Gary Mongeon of RKG Associates Inc. of Durham, N.H. As we all know, Durham is near a suburb of Boston, an over-populated area and very different from central and northern Maine. Do they understand the wants and dreams of those that call Aroostook County home. It is so frustrating to see the tightened purse strings offered the few when we squander so much on the many.

Consider, for example, the so- called, “Boston Money Pit, the Big Dig, the underground Boston Highway” which was originally estimated to cost $2.6 billion to build. According to the new projections, that project could cost over $l4 billion to complete. That project alone, could build over 30 highways from Houlton to Madawaska, Maine. How can we justify spending so much money in one place while denying equal opportunity in northern Maine. Is the state of Maine being well represented by outside consultants who, perhaps, do not understand our region and our people? Highway North isn’t just about attracting business. These questions should not be overlooked at this time.

Our priorities in central and northern Aroostook are very simple, clear, and certainly not complicated. We are part of Aroostook, part of Maine and part of America. Our national interests should not end in Houlton. There is much life beyond Houlton. We were part of the Highway 95 plans and designs of the 1950s which promised a Highway from Florida to Fort Kent. Let us hold our state and federal goverments to these promises. Let us tell them that we deserve and need the same opportunities that the rest of the nation has. Enough of the surveys after survey and plans after plan, people are tired of them. We know what is needed and what we want.

The people of northern Aroostook and the St. John Valley want a Highway North from Caribou to the Madawaska area and let us begin building it north down. From Cacibou to Houlton, I believe that the majority would want a Highway not too far from the existing U.S. l, with due respect for the beautiful farms and the environment. There is no question, that this needed highway will connect us with the rest of the Country and will open the tourist industry so important to us as in all parts of Maine.

The highway will bring safety and security to our people. Who wants those huge trucks loaded with all kind of hazardous chemicals pass through our towns? The Highway will help all of our industries, will help them to compete, and will bring prosperity so needed in our region. The highway will give our highway trucking industries who have replaced most of our rail transportation, the tools to competitively transport the goods in and out of our county and a proper connection with New Brunswick, Quebec and western Canada.

People of central and northern Aroostook, defend your proper rights. Nobody else will. It is an obligation which we owe to our children and our descendants. Let us give them proper access to succeed in our area. They are very successful outside Aroostook, why can’t they be successful here? Let us stand up together to this challenge.

John F. Dionne lives in Grand Isle.