Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Arlen L. Wonderlich

To the Editor:

The speed limit on the Great River Road south of Lansing is 35 mph from just past the Lansing Harpers Road until you pass Columbus Road by the Driftless Area Education Center, where it changes to 45 mph. Of interest; at the intersection of Whalen Hill Road and Great River Road the visibility to the west is very limited; however, the speed limit has already been changed to 45 mph!

A short distance past the intersection with Whalen Hill Road the speed limit increases from 45 mph to 55 mph. The 55 mph is in effect from that point until you reach Harpers Ferry.

I have met with the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors asking them to consider reducing the speed limit from just past the Whalen Hill intersection to access to the Alliant Energy property, a distance of 1.8 miles. This reduction in speed from 55 mph to 45 mph would require an extra 25 seconds of driving time.

Why is the 55 mph a concern? There are many hazards on this stretch of highway:

1. Visibility is limited by the elevation changes and the curvature of the road.
2. All private properties (27 driveways and 96 homes) on the bluff side of the highway with 37 mail boxes that are on the opposite side of the highway.
3. This section of the highway was slated to have a bike path; however, because there is no or very limited shoulder the bike path never came to fruition. The lack of a viable shoulder is also a hazard:
  a. A hazard for people walking or riding a bicycle.
   b. A hazard when meeting large farm machinery.
 c. A hazard when attempting to pass slow-moving farm machinery or ATVs.
4. Distractions:
a. Beautiful scenery (it is a scenic Great River Road)
b. River traffic (big boats, cruise ships, and barge traffic)
c. Train traffic
d. Wildlife such as deer, raccoons, etc.

Is 25 seconds too much to ask to save an accident which could result in the death of a pedestrian or a bicyclist?

Arlen L. Wonderlich
Lansing