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Dear Editor:
On a recent trip to Evansville, I wondered aloud if the tall grass and weeds in the state highway medians was a local problem or was it widespread. Conversations with friends and relatives quickly confirmed the problem is not just confined to southern Indiana. To me personally as a lifelong resident of Indiana, this situation is very embarrassing.
The weeds not only obscure the views of animals and other vehicles, but they are also downright unsightly, spreading invasive seeds throughout. This dangerous scenario is uncalled for. If you let your personal property look like this, there is a good chance you will receive a letter warning you of the consequences – possibly a fine, too.
Unfortunately, the problems are not only the medians, but tree branches also block large informational signs and intersection triangles are weed-filled and littered with trash and debris.
With Indiana being “The Crossroads of America,” is this the image that we want travelers to remember when they travel through our state?
According to a press release from the Indiana State Comptroller’s Office, our state had a $2.9 billion tax surplus in 2023. We can do better, and I urge each citizen to reach out to our state legislators to address this immediate danger.
Brian D. Pound
Sullivan, Ind.
I want to add to Brian’s concern about highway mediums and obstruction that blocks the view for drivers. This is also a problem with landscaping center pieces in round-abouts in Carmel and Westfield. One example is Oakridge and 161st Street. I was ready to pull into the round about from the northeast corner and a little red car came whizzing from the southwestern part of the round-about sight unseen until the last minute. Luckily my side seat driver stopped me from a T-bone crash. More thought must be taken into consideration when developing and planning these round about center pieces that block the view of drivers entering the round about.
I understand that the centerpieces help to alert the drivers that it’s not a through road; however, many block the view of vehicles coming from the opposite direction, as Ms. Briggs encountered. Safety first, beauty last.