November 06, 2006

SAVE DON’T PAVE!

North Fork landowners will soon receive a survey from the North Fork Landowner Association on maintenance of the North Fork Road. Be sure to complete the survey.

In case dust has fogged your vision and your commitment to gravel is wavering, don’t forget . . .

North Forkers accept a measure of inconvenience for the joy of living in one of the most spectacular places in the world. Outdoor privies, finicky generators, trucked-in propane, and our blessed (and cursed) gravel road—these are the small prices we pay to keep the North Fork special.

Paving the North Fork Road will undermine precisely what makes this community extraordinary. Paving will increase crowds and traffic, reduce wildlife, and change us forever. Consider this: Polebridge is a mere 35 miles from the nearest strip mall and the skyrocketing growth of the Flathead Valley. Paving will transform us from a rural haven to another cookie-cutter suburb.

With pavement, developers will descend upon the North Fork. Paving would encourage many more people to live here year-round, because commuting to the valley would suddenly be appealing. Urbanites who don’t understand our way of life will rush in, bringing more -- and much faster -- traffic with them.

Engineers know paved roads promote greater speed and cause more accidents involving humans, pets and wildlife. Pavement will trigger more fatal wrecks. In contrast, engineers know gravel roads are much safer than paved roads -- because people slow down.

North Forkers will always welcome a well-maintained gravel road, especially with dust abatement, but pavement between Canyon Creek and Camas would make it impossible to maintain our special way of life. The changes paving would bring are too heavy a price to pay for the "convenience" of a smoother ride.

Paving proponents are again organizing, and ratcheting up the pressure. To preserve the peace and tranquility of the North Fork, fill out and mail the survey today. Urge your pro-gravel friends to do the same.

SAVE DON’T PAVE!

Posted by nfpa at November 6, 2006 06:21 PM