Dear Editor:

As most of the residents of Rush County know, Milroy is in the process of being under major construction. The workers, I believe, have completed their work on the storm drains and are now in the stage of depth construction with the road on Main Street. Presently half the town is down to one lane and eventually all of Main Street will most likely also be one lane.

The construction seems to be testing people’s better judgment when it comes to dealing with the road closure and detour. I have witnessed cars, trucks, semis and even “wide load” trucks trying to make their way down Main Street, even when workers have dug a trench across the road that is so deep you can’t even see their hard hats sticking up from the hole.

The workers have been very understanding, in my opinion, with the people who have no business traveling through town but choose to do so even though the road is officially closed to through traffic.

I realize their are semis and farm equipment that need to go through town to businesses or their farms. I’m not talking about people who have business in town or are visiting friends or family or the people who patronize our businesses. I’m speaking to those who don’t want to take the time to use the detour to get to their destination.

Yes, I realize gas prices are off the charts and it costs more to take a detour. Construction has been going on since April and it will continue to go on for quite awhile and I truly believe it will get done a lot faster if people stay out of the construction workers’ way and let them do their job.

It is my opinion that the endless stream of needless traffic has put the Main Street Project behind schedule since they are now having to work on Fridays also. I have come to this conclusion after watching the workers have to stop with their digging, etc., so vehicles can get by, even when I’m sure the majority of these vehicles are just passing through town. I have seen vehicles drive right up behind a dump truck or construction equipment even though all the truck or front loader wants to do is back up so they can dump a load or whatever they are trying to accomplish. Sometimes the cars, trucks, or semis have had to back down the street because there was no way to let them through.

It is appalling how people have no regard for other people’s property and have chosen to use whatever means they can find to get around the construction on Main Street. They use private drives that are maintained at the expense of the owner and in some instances drive through a person’s yard — in one case even their garden. They travel way too fast down alleys that have blind corners and that have only enough room for one car to travel through. People are having to use these alleys to walk in town, and children are riding their bikes down these same alleys.

I am truly amazed that there haven’t been more accidents, having witnessed a lot of near misses. I’m thankful none of the construction workers have been injured considering the poor judgment that people seem to be using when driving down Main Street.

All I’m saying is think before you go around a “road closed” sign. What if it was your town? What if it was your private driveway, garden or backyard that people were driving through? What if your father or grandfather was trying to work in his garden or your kids or grandkids were trying to play in their yard? Or maybe you are just trying to mow your yard and you are constantly having to watch out for someone that might come flying up what isn’t even a road?

Just use common sense and some common courtesy. Is that too much to ask of people?

Sincerely,

Judy Dunlap

Milroy