The Corridor K Gazette

The following article appeared on August 26 in the Cherokee Scout.

By CLYDE HOLLER
Guest columnist
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:06 PM CDT
Len James tried to make a case for the construction of a four-lane bypass of the Ocoee Gorge on the basis of the needs of the new Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.

There are a number of errors in his reasoning that can be easily verified by consulting the coverage in the business press.

First, the Chattanooga Volkswagen site already has a rail link, which was provided as part of the deal. Most new Volkswagens will be shipped by rail, not truck. Second, this assembly plant will be building cars for the domestic market, not for export. There is no reason to worry about trucking these cars to an Atlantic port for shipment to Europe.

Third, most suppliers to the auto industry are located in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. If they or others decide to locate closer to the Chattanooga plant, they will choose the Chattanooga side of the gorge, rather than waiting years for the bypass to be completed. Fourth, James exaggerates the frequency of rockslides and other disasters on the existing road. Finally the Volkswagen people already have made it clear that Corridor K was not a factor in their decision. If they don’t need it, why does James think they need it?

Road contractors and their allies will seize upon any argument to advance their cause, because there are substantial public monies involved and profit margins are handsome. But it does not make sense to spend public money on large-scale road construction projects when gas prices already are forcing shippers to move from truck to rail. This trend will accelerate as gas prices rise, because it takes one-third the amount of diesel fuel to move a ton of freight by rail.

Yes, there would be a transportation benefit to building a four-lane road through the Cherokee National Forest, but bear in mind it is going to be a toll road, as the Wilbur Smith consultants have admitted. Also bear in mind that it will damage our tourism economy. People don’t vacation here because we have great four-lane roads. They come here to enjoy the solitude and beauty of the wilderness. Finally, bear in mind that if you don’t want Interstate-3 tearing up the mountains from Murphy to Robbinsville, you don’t want Corridor K either, because they will share a substantial amount of roadbed, and building one will strengthen the case for building the other.

All in all, this is an improvement that costs much more than it is worth, and it certainly won’t help Volkswagen or Murphy.

The best idea is to improve the existing road, which would realize most of the transportation benefit. It should have been done years ago.

Clyde Holler is a resident of Morganton, Ga.