News
We have been shocked by the lack of notice or public involvement in determining the traffic re-routing for the Interstate 80 work.
As residents of a neighborhood just off Highway 20, we feel the ill effects daily of the nightly pollution, foul odors and steady drone and racket of the truck convoys.
Even with all that, our paramount concern is the very real threat of fire, along with other life and safety concerns enumerated in the “Other Voices” I-80 truck detour puts us all in danger column by Reinette Senum, published on April 25.
While looking into this “situation,” we discovered that Tim Fike, fire chief, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, had no more notice about the detour than the rest of the citizens who live in the area!
This is even more intensely disturbing when you realize that NCCFD would be among the first responders for any fire, major accident or incident with casualties.
It is outrageous that Mr. Fike was not asked for his input during the planning process.
It is also shameful in light of the considerable life safety issues which could easily arise.
Mr. Fike apparently had no written notice of the I-80 detour.
He only learned about the specifics of the timing, route, etc., at a California Highway Patrol meeting in Grass Valley — which he found out about “through the grapevine.”
He personally wrote an “awareness plan” to deal with the myriad potential scenarios which could arise, including: fire, hazardous chemical spill or mass casualty accident.
He has made plans which include identifying potential helicopter landing sites, sources for ambulances, and accessibility for hazmat teams — which would need a minimum of two hours to reach locations on Hwy. 20.
It is ominous and scary that these serious life and safety issues were either neglected by Caltrans or brushed off in the haste to get the I-80 project started — at any cost.
Caltrans needs to adequately explain the reasons why the roadwork could not be accomplished without this detour, and why our families and homes need to be subject to such heavy risks.
They need to explain the “justification” for why Nevada County residents were given no opportunity to comment on the project and only minimal warning.
Every person in Nevada County has the right to know this critical information.
Please join us April 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Nevada City Hall when Caltrans hosts an information meeting, where we must hold Caltrans accountable and let them know how many of us need real answers.
Submitted by Joan Moskowitz Lewin & David Lewin, Susan & Steve Solinsky, Nina Janowsky Snegg & Mike Snegg, Connie & Terry Anderson, Michelle & Kevin Homan, Tom McCormick, Molly Harrison & Warren Pfahl
As residents of a neighborhood just off Highway 20, we feel the ill effects daily of the nightly pollution, foul odors and steady drone and racket of the truck convoys.
Even with all that, our paramount concern is the very real threat of fire, along with other life and safety concerns enumerated in the “Other Voices” I-80 truck detour puts us all in danger column by Reinette Senum, published on April 25.
While looking into this “situation,” we discovered that Tim Fike, fire chief, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, had no more notice about the detour than the rest of the citizens who live in the area!
This is even more intensely disturbing when you realize that NCCFD would be among the first responders for any fire, major accident or incident with casualties.
It is outrageous that Mr. Fike was not asked for his input during the planning process.
It is also shameful in light of the considerable life safety issues which could easily arise.
Mr. Fike apparently had no written notice of the I-80 detour.
He only learned about the specifics of the timing, route, etc., at a California Highway Patrol meeting in Grass Valley — which he found out about “through the grapevine.”
He personally wrote an “awareness plan” to deal with the myriad potential scenarios which could arise, including: fire, hazardous chemical spill or mass casualty accident.
He has made plans which include identifying potential helicopter landing sites, sources for ambulances, and accessibility for hazmat teams — which would need a minimum of two hours to reach locations on Hwy. 20.
It is ominous and scary that these serious life and safety issues were either neglected by Caltrans or brushed off in the haste to get the I-80 project started — at any cost.
Caltrans needs to adequately explain the reasons why the roadwork could not be accomplished without this detour, and why our families and homes need to be subject to such heavy risks.
They need to explain the “justification” for why Nevada County residents were given no opportunity to comment on the project and only minimal warning.
Every person in Nevada County has the right to know this critical information.
Please join us April 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Nevada City Hall when Caltrans hosts an information meeting, where we must hold Caltrans accountable and let them know how many of us need real answers.
Submitted by Joan Moskowitz Lewin & David Lewin, Susan & Steve Solinsky, Nina Janowsky Snegg & Mike Snegg, Connie & Terry Anderson, Michelle & Kevin Homan, Tom McCormick, Molly Harrison & Warren Pfahl
