We, the business communities of Russell and Ironton, want you to beware about the need to keep a bridge connecting both of the downtown business districts.

Wednesday, April 11, 2001

We, the business communities of Russell and Ironton, want you to beware about the need to keep a bridge connecting both of the downtown business districts.

Ironton and Russell have had this economic bond connecting their respective communities for 75-plus years. All retail businesses rely on traffic flow to generate sales. It is the lifeblood of our businesses. We cannot survive without the traffic generated by a bridge being in both downtown business districts.

If a new bridge bypasses downtown Russell, we will loose the millions that have been invested in our businesses, but the Ironton business community stands to loose millions more because of the permanent change in traffic patterns that will happen if a new bridge bypasses downtown Russell.

A bridge connecting to U.S. 23 at the overpass out of downtown Russell will cause traffic to continue on towards the shopping centers and Ashland. People would soon learn that with a continuous eastbound lane on U.S. 23, coupled with the visibility problem when trying to turn to come to Ironton will result in lost customer traffic.

People traveling from central Greenup County, Flatwoods, Raceland, Worthington, that once found it convenient to spend their money in Ironton will find it less convenient. None of us can afford to loose any business and we would like to see the bridge stay right where it is. But if a new bridge is to be built, we ask for your support in keeping the bridge in both downtown business districts.

It should be the decision of the business people and citizens, as well as the local government of Ironton to determine where a new bridge should be located. The City of Russell should take into consideration what the businesses in Ironton and Russell want. ODOT cannot and will not build anything in Ironton without the permission of local government.

We are asking that our voices be heard. We want to vote and we want our vote to count. We want a bridge connecting both downtowns.

G. Lynn Rice

Flatwoods