A lose-lose situation

Posted 3/3/15

To the Editor:

Here we go, possibly another planning fiasco for Providence in the making. 

They knock down all these buildings to supposedly connect more of Providence together with a nice …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

A lose-lose situation

Posted

To the Editor:

Here we go, possibly another planning fiasco for Providence in the making. 

They knock down all these buildings to supposedly connect more of Providence together with a nice waterfront area to have politicians and big money to come in and scoop it up to put a big cement stadium in to block it and eat up the area.

Just look what Providence Place Mall did. Providence’s inept planning department at the time should never have let the mall locate there. It should have been on the other side of 95 where the old foundry and farmers market was so that it wouldn’t block the beautiful view of our state capital building. 

It used to be impressive to drive down 95 and pass our state house building all lit up at night. Now you have to look for it just to get a quick glimpse of it as you pass. People coming from the south on 95 can’t even see it. Such a foolish waste of a once beautiful image of our state. 

They’ve located the 95 and 195 interchange, which makes the flow of traffic better, but at the on- and off-ramps from both directions for Rhode Island Hospital. That would have most assuredly saved some lives over the years. Just a small oversight, I guess. Ambulances still have to fight traffic on Eddy Street to try to get a critical patient to the hospital. 

What do you think locating a stadium near the 95/195 interchange will do to the traffic there. 195 will be back to the delays and backup it once was. Ambulances trying to get to the hospital will be caught back up into that as well. 

Another concern is when there is a big event at the Dunkin Donuts Center traffic backs up. What happens when you have a ball game and event at the Dunk at the same time?

It is going to be a nightmare of a traffic jam. A stadium there is going to undo everything they tried to improve. 

Put a story out with these concerns to the general public and ask for their opinion on it before this gets too far in the planning stage. The move would only downgrade Pawtucket and downgrade Providence. 

Looks like a lose-lose to me. 

Russell Yates

Warwick

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • JohnStark

    Mr. Yates,

    Points well taken. However, it seems to me that owners would only build a new stadium if it was financially beneficial for them to do so. And it would only be beneficial if access to a new stadium was attractive and efficient. Otherwise, people would simply stay home. Probably best to hear the plan before deciding that you're against it. Or, you could get a jump on the crowd and order your Worcester Red Sox hat.

    Wednesday, March 4, 2015 Report this