Editor, The Smithfield Times:

When is enough enough? 

We recently drove to the Food Lion on Route 17 in Carrollton at 3 p.m. and got into terrible traffic that was coming from the James River Bridge. On another weekday, we tried to pick up a prescription in Smithfield after 2 p.m. and again, backups on Route 258 (no accidents). Leaving out of the vet clinic on Route 17 in Carrollton with our dog after 4 p.m. on another weekday was another heavy traffic experience.

How many more residential, high-density, multi-family developments will Isle of Wight County approve? Where is the widening of the main roads, like Route 17, which is a main throughway for us to travel out of Carrollton. We are also receiving North Suffolk’s traffic. North Suffolk also overdeveloped, and now we’re hit with a traffic double whammy!  

Most folks can’t just “move” to another county or city. This area is quickly being overwhelmed, and it’s beyond time for common-sense growth and common-sense folks to make wise growth decisions. The rapid disappearance of so many of Carrollton’s and Smithfield’s beautiful trees and wildlife is truly sad.  

Another issue is why those retaining ponds in Carrollton were put so close to Route 17. If someone gets into an accident or if the roads are icy, a vehicle could go right into those ponds and the occupants would be seriously hurt or even killed.  

It’s time for the people approving all of these VERY dense residential housing projects to drive on weekdays on Route 17 at 5 p.m. and then maybe they’ll finally put their breaks on!

 

Aurora Lambright

Carrollton