Opinions on a proposed Highway 45 bypass to be constructed by 2020 were largely positive or apathetic Thursday in the early hours of a public hearing on the project.
Thirty to 40 people milled around the first floor of the Trotter Convention Center viewing maps and speaking with engineers and planners about potential impacts and benefits of the bypass.
Two slightly differing proposals are on the table, but Robert Walker, project manager for Neel-Shaffer engineers, which is working alongside the Mississippi Department of Transportation says both plans may be adjusted.
“We”ve asked that everybody write their comments down and we”ll go back and discuss them with MDOT. If we can make adjustments, we”ll try to satisfy their comments. That”s the reason we have the meeting,” said Walker.
Many of the visitors to the public hearing were simply gathering information, but some came with an opinion.
“I stay off (Highway) 45, so I don”t care,” said Glen Spitler, of Columbus. “I stay off 45 unless I have to.”
While Spitler didn”t have a preference between the “Plan B” and “Plan C” options, as they”re called, he says he”d rather see money spent to construct another bridge across the Tennessee-Tombigbee River to provide a “backup bridge” to the existing bridge on Highway 82.
Robert Dill, 73, of Columbus, doesn”t have a preference between “B” and “C” either, but he had some fun imagining when the project would be completed.
“If it comes by Trinity Nursing Home it will probably impact me,” Dill joked.
The project”s estimated completion date is 2020.
Speaking seriously, Dill did predict the bypass would produce the desired effect of relieving traffic on Highway 45, but his wife, Betty, was more concerned about the noise the bypass would bring past her house off Holly Hills Road.
While Columbus Air Force Base is officially on board with the project, some military members who live off base are reportedly concerned the bypass would come too close, within 200 feet, of their neighborhood.
Walker said the 200-foot figure may be true in some cases.
“It could be (within 200 feet of some houses). The plan relocates some people and it comes near some people. It just depends,” he said.
Preliminary estimates show the bypass relocating 38 or 39 residences, depending on which plan is chosen. Both relocate 113 apartment units. The bypass will also relocate up to 12 businesses and have a “noise impact” on 11 locations.
But traffic on Highway 45 was the primary concern at the public hearing. The bypass will reroute some of the highway”s estimated 27,000 vehicles per day and 850 heavy commercial vehicles per day.
“It would be great to get some of the traffic out of Columbus,” said Carl Fulgham, who lives on Jess Lyons Road. “I can”t hardly get up there no more.”
Former Ward 6 Councilman Jerry Kendall said the bypass wouldn”t hurt business on Highway 45 as some have suggested or break the city”s budget with its estimated $100 million price tag, although no funding source has been identified for the project.
“The Highway 82 bypass took forever but has been well worth the money,” said Kendall. “I like “Plan B” because it”s about $8 million cheaper and leaves more land toward town to develop. The other plan takes up valuable property.”
Waimon Hendrix, who”s lived in Columbus since 1980, had no preference on which plan to pursue and likes the intended effect of both.
“It will be easier on Saturdays and after work driving downtown,” he said.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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