I 20/59 interchange: Express yourself

By Staff
November 16, 2003
Logic would seem to dictate that the less time it takes trucks to get into and out of an industrial park and onto a major highway, the more efficient will be the flow of raw materials and products. In manufacturing, time is related to distance.
But logic doesn't always rule in cases of multimillion-dollar expenditures and the case of the interchange that is supposed to connect the interstate with the I 20/59 Industrial Park is one example. The route preferred by city officials places the interchange to be built with public dollars on land that is currently privately-owned; maps show it would be more than two miles from the industrial park that represents a huge public investment.
There may be sound engineering reasons for placing the interchange so far from the site purchased by Lauderdale County supervisors for development of an industrial park. There are some in our community, however, who believe the interchange could be located much closer to the I 20/59 Industrial Park at much lower expense.
And those are two of the reasons why we encourage all interested parties to attend a public meeting coming Thursday on the subject of the I 20/59 interchange. City officials have promised that state and federal authorities will be on hand to detail the proposal and answer questions. The meeting is scheduled from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Meridian municipal courtroom on Sixth Street.
This public meeting has been presented as a prelude to a more formal public hearing that must also be held before construction can begin.
It is important for all sides to have ample opportunity to express their opinions before any final decisions are made. This public meeting on Thursday is a step in that direction.