By DAVID A. MANN
The city of Jeffersonville recently applied to the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers to build a new north-south route through a protected wetlands.
The application opens the door for public comment and residents opposed to the route are rallying others to write in, hopeful for a public hearing on the matter. The road would connect Main Street with Hamburg Pike by cutting through America Place.
In the application, the city states that the proposed road alignment is the only viable route because of the adjacent property owner’s plan to expand an existing asphalt plant
The plan would mitigate the wetlands by creating a new, 7.8-acre wetlands at an off-site location, north of New Washington. During a Tuesday morning meeting, Jeffersonville’s Board of Public Works and Safety was told the property would cost them $189,000. The board approved a $1,500 down payment on the parcel. Mayor Tom Galligan, the route’s chief proponent, has argued that the project is necessary to relieve traffic on other city roadways.
“We need another crossroad in the city of Jeffersonville, other than Dutch Lane,” he said.
The road also has been mentioned as a way to reduce traffic issues in Northaven subdivision. Traffic plagues that area, as many motorists use the neighborhood as a cut-through between Charlestown-Jeffersonville Pike and 10th Street.
Pat Barrow — who has led an opposition group of residents from the nearby Jefferson Court neighborhood — said the significant part of the Corps of Engineers permit application is that residents should “finally get a public meeting that is not run by the city.”
A meeting date hasn’t been set, but those interested in the project can request in writing that one be held. Barrow expects that about 100 residents will be writing such letters.
The city has held a meeting on the road. However, Galligan and others left before residents had a chance to speak about the project, she said.
She’s against the proposal because she fears “it will add more pollution, fumes, dirt, dust, gravel dust and noise. It will practically rattle the homes that it’ll be running up against,” she said.
Galligan has asked supporters of the road to write in as well. At the public works meeting, Galligan told Dan Huff — a representative of the America Place industrial park who is apparently supportive of the road — to write in support of the project and submit letters to the editor to raise public support.
“I’m tired of listening to Pat Barrow,” he said. “I’m tired of her attacking me personally.”
Barrow has been critical of Galligan. She previously produced a straight F’s “report card” on his administration.
She said the mayor does not talk to her personally.
“The only thing we’re fighting for is the health of our community. And we have to fight our mayor,” she said.
ON THE WEB
• Review Jeffersonville’s application — lrl.usace.army.mil/orf/listnotices.asp
BE HEARD
• If you want to comment for or against the application, make sure to refer to the public notice number LRL-2009-316-anr. Address all comments and inquiries to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, ATTN: Andrew Roberts, CELRL-OP-FN, Room 752, P.O. Box 59, Louisville, Ky., 40201-0059.
