'Stupid wall' is one more thing wrong with bypass

I was recently riding my bicycle along the U.S. 93 alternate route and wondered, “Why did they build a stupid wall blocking the view of the mountains?”

There is a simulated design of the mountains on the wall. If you use your imagination, you can almost see mountains.

Of course, if the wall wasn’t there, then you could actually see the real mountains.

The wall also blocks the afternoon sun on the bicycle trail. I guess the designers thought, “Who wants to enjoy the view of the mountains on a sunny day while riding a bicycle, when you can look at a stupid wall instead?” It seems the designers must not ride bicycles or use trails.

I’ve wondered what the purpose of the wall is.

If it’s supposed to block the sound from the highway, then the wall should be on the edge of the road, not next to the bicycle trial. Sound engineers know that sound travels in waves. If the wall isn’t next to the highway, then the sound from the highway will travel over the wall and still be heard in the homes on the other side.

If the purpose of the wall is to block the view of the highway from the homes, I guess it’s a choice. See the highway or look at an ugly wall. One thing is for sure, the wall ruins the outdoors experience for bicycle riders and walkers on the trail.

Did the city have some extra money left over from the highway project? Instead of saving the money for future projects, did they decide to waste it on a stupid wall? Who got paid for it?

Instead of building the stupid wall, maybe the contractors could have put in a tunnel under the highway, where the original bicycle trail was, going west to Kila. Instead of a tunnel, they built a detour to the bridge over the creek, south on the trail. Walkers must choose between climbing the hill and crossing the highway at the original location, or take the 30-minute detour to get to the other side of the highway. Most walkers decide to climb the hill and cross the highway at the original location of the trail. Jaywalking across the highway isn’t the safest way to get to the other side.

We must understand. The people who designed the trail also designed the highway, with roundabouts in it. Large semitrailers can’t negotiate the roundabouts, so they must drive through downtown, on the original 93. The purpose of the highway was to divert traffic from downtown. It seems they defeated their purpose with the roundabouts.

Of course, someday there may be homes in the region. The roundabout dead ends will become roads. It’s a city planner’s dream to replace open spaces and wildlife habitat with condos and subdivisions.

In conclusion, if people want to look at walls, then they should commit a crime and go to prison. Then they can be surrounded by walls.

Thomas Lacerte, Kalispell