
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 22, 1994                   TAG: 9403220164
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By CECILE G. NEWCOMB
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PAVING THE WAY FOR MORE POLLUTION

THE ROANOKE Times & World News' biased coverage of possible routes for the proposed Interstate 73 doesn't adequately portray the negative aspects of the U.S. 460/220 corridor route or fairly represent various groups opposing it. This newspaper obviously favors the U.S. 460/220 route as evidenced by its March 11 editorial endorsement of a Roanoke route for I-73 (``A road to the region's future'') and the March 9 front-page story by staff writer Greg Edwards, ``Roanoke valley just might get I-73.'' Relegated to back sections of the newspaper is coverage of opposing viewpoints to the Roanoke route.

Once again, Montgomery County citizens are threatened by Roanoke's desire to bring another interstate to itself and by research interests in smart-road technology. Montgomery County's quality of life will suffer if development and research interests of a relatively small, albeit powerful, group prevail.

While the U.S. 460/220 route is touted as an economic stimulus for Montgomery County, and particularly Roanoke County, the negative impacts of I-73 must be seriously considered. Even though one's personal back yard may be miles from the new highway, pollution and crime it brings will reach into each home.

What kind of jobs would it bring? Would they be temporary and low-paying? Pollution caused by thousands of vehicles passing by daily will leave clouds of poisonous gases constantly hanging in our valleys and acid fog killing our mountains. More highways mean more people have to drive because it's no longer safe to ride a bike or walk, further increasing pollution. Our towns' quality of life decreases as the noise level increases, more crime is introduced into the area, more convenience stores and gas stations sprout in every available empty space, and our children have fewer and fewer places to explore, hike, camp, ride bikes, etc. We all need to look much further into the future and think about our children's and grandchildren's lives, before consumerism consumes our entire nation.

It isn't wise to continue to design our country for automobiles when oil resources are being depleted or held hostage, and innovative technology such as the ``electronic village'' and information highways reduce the need for cars. Alternative-fuel vehicles aren't the panacea either, in that manufacture and distribution of these vehicles and fuels will produce harmful byproducts.

Truly innovative technological and economic research would find ways to use and improve the existing infrastructure rather than destroy more land and habitats (both human and other species). Those yearning for unbridled development, more malls, faster roads, etc., have many choices for relocation to areas where the land's already been swallowed by development, such as Northern Virginia.

This newspaper portrays the I-73 routing question as all but answered, as if there's nothing that can be done to stop it. We must do something to stop it. Montgomery County's economy is quite optimistic. We don't need to have rash decisions made to bring I-73 through the county, and then suffer and pay for it long into the future.

Cecile G. Newcomb of Blacksburg is a former track and cross-country coach at Blacksburg High School.

by CNB