To: BobL; COEXERJ145
Cintra would be insane to allow Perry to leave open the possibility of some future governor, maybe KBH or a Dem, coming in with a vengeance and adding a couple of lanes each way to I-35 - thereby destroying Cintra's investment. Where would the state get the right of way to add two lanes in each direction to I-35? The right of way currently is narrower than most newer Interstate highways that have two lanes each direction separated by a grass median. The grass median separating north and south bound traffic between Austin and Hillsborough is about half the width of other Texas Interstate highways. That's why the state built concrete crash barriers between those lanes in the last five years. The frontage roads adjacent to I-35 are also closer than more modern frontage roads. There is no place to to put more than one additional lane in each direction using the current right of way unless elevated lanes were built. You could build lots more lanes in a brand new right of way for what it would cost to build an elevated highway from San Antonio to Denton.
98 posted on
01/05/2005 8:25:11 PM PST by
Paleo Conservative
(Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Dan Rather's got to go!)
To: Paleo Conservative
I won't claim to know the ins and outs of I-35, but, having lived in California for 10 years, I can tell you first hand that there are very, very, creative ways to squeeze extra lanes out of a given right of way.
Anyway, the non-compete clause will be there, as it is in Canada, and it will be academic as to whether the state has any options, since Cintra will simply prevent improvements (or charge the state).
I just don't like that kind of sellout.
102 posted on
01/05/2005 8:35:28 PM PST by
BobL
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