LETTER: Traffic patterns and the big rigs

The new rail park sounds great for the downtown area. But there will be a big increase in traffic on Seventh Avenue East North and Whitefish Stage Road. I hope the planners have considered the increased big rig traffic on Seventh Avenue East North as the intersection at Idaho Street is very narrow for big rigs to turn and may need a left turn lane on Seventh Avenue East North and be widened.

Also the north portion of the U.S. 93 West bypass will not relieve the big rig traffic in north and south travel on U.S. 93 through downtown. Most big rigs are not using the current southern portion due to the round-abouts. The round-abouts destroy wheels and tires on these trucks with duals and heavy loads. The planners need to replace them with lights or overpasses. —Dexter Hamilton, Kalispell