Who is Lakewood’s newest engineer? In a time when “being green” is so important, and topping every politician’s list of number one priorities to discuss, some Lakewood official, decides it would be a great idea to add yet another light. Yesterday, while driving through the newly installed light at the intersection of Whitman and Motor Ave., I noticed that the beautiful trees that aligned the street had been cut down! I can definitely see the light now! This gives us three lights in about a quarter of a mile. And of course, it would have to be on a separate timer, so once again we have a new cluster of cars in Lakewood. All of this stopping and starting sure makes sense on gas consumption!! This letter wouldn’t be complete without asking who was the master mind behind the road block at the end of Meadow Road is? Now in order to make a left turn unless you are sitting up high in a gas guzzling SUV, you can’t see what is coming around the corner. If it is your intention to make our lives a little bit easier, please stop now! I can’t see the trees for the light!!
Leslie Attebery
Lakewood, WA
Malcolm Russell says
I admit to being a force behind the revision at Meadow Road. Living right at the intersection I became acutely aware not just of how ugly and void of greenery it was, but also just how dangerous and poorly designed the old intersection was…
Due to very high speeds from a downhill sloping free right turn onto northbound Meadow Road, my kid’s and my neighbor’s life were literally at risk every time they tried to exit the driveway.
The new road revision was approved and drafted by professionally educated traffic engineers and reviewed by citizens on the Transportation Advisory Committee.
We have since landscaped and planted trees in the area to green and beautify the neighborhood and recently added an environmentally friendly rain garden to help remove pollutants from the storm water runoff and help recharge the aquifer.
I’m quite pleased to have masterminded the efforts that resulted in reduced speeds and improved local safety that helped to protect the kids, while at the same time helping to green and improve the neighborhood, the environment and surface water quality.
Malcolm Russell
Lakewood, WA