Letter: County Road 9 overpass is a must

To the Editor:

We need an overpass where Goodhue County 9 crosses U.S. Highway 52. People have been killed there, and more deaths will surely follow if something isn't done.

As a resident of Goodhue County, I am tired of seeing my tax money go north to the Cities and south to Rochester to improve U.S. 52. Why is our stretch of the highway being treated like an orphan? Actually the county, state, and federal government all have some responsibility for it.

Our county commissioners have done what they can. (Thank you to Dan Rechtzigel, Jim Bryant, Rich Samuelson, Ted Seifert and Ron Alien!) But, little Goodhue County cannot afford to do it alone. We need help!

So with the poet, I say: "Give me men to match my mountains": Public servants who are big enough to put party politics aside; state legislators who are willing to reach across the aisle, maybe even enlist Gov. Mark Dayton's aid. Surely the governor sees the need. He is, after all, the owner of a dog named 'Mingo.

I'd also like to see Congressman John Kline and Sen. Amy Klobuchar making the case in Washington that an overpass is a necessity, not just an "earmark" and that U.S. 52 is NOT an orphan. It is a United States highway. That's why we call it U.S. 52.

Where are the men and women to match my mountains? Where are the men and women willing to tackle seemingly insurmountable obstacles for the good of everyone?

I challenge all my elected representatives to be those leaders. I hope they will step forward to spearhead a united non-political effort to improve our deadly intersection. That would be a true public service.

Barbara Betcher

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters