Stop me if you've heard this before.
They are going to fix Route 322.
Yeah, sure. Any day now.
I have lost count how many front pages I have constructed that dealt either with another fatality on what is darkly referred to as the 'Killer Conchester' or that the long-delayed project to fix the road is taking another step forward.
This time it might actually be different.
Remember that controversial $2 billion Transportation package passed by the state Legislature last spring? As part of that a state Transportation Committee was formed to determine the best way to spend the expected additional $2.3 billion a year in revenue should be spent.
Guess what is right there on the of the list? That's right, our very own Conchester Highway.
The committee rolled out their revised 12-year transportation plan, and Route 322 is one of the projects singled out for funding.
Do I believe it will happen?
Actually, this time I do.
The problem with this proposal has always been how to pay for it. No one has ever argued that Route 322 is a very dangerous road that was never meant to handle the amount of traffic that rumbles from I-95 in Chester to Route 1 in Concord every day.
Yes, I know an argument can me made that a big part of the Conchester's problem is the people driving on it. Yes, people go too fast. That is likely not going to change.
But a horribly outdated design can - and apparently will.
Now the money is there.
Let's get those shovels in the ground soon, folks.
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