I’ve followed the upset over the removal of some beautiful, old trees to make way for the new underpass at 32nd Street. It’s a shame to remove those trees. But sometimes we have to replace something old with something new. I don’t know enough to know whether that is a good trade-off in this instance.

I do know that as a pedestrian or cyclist, I don’t like underpasses. Sometimes they are the best solution. But they are usually dark and damp, and they always hide me from the natural light and natural beauty of the area. In some cases, but I hope not in Durango, they can be dangerous, especially at night.

I understand the city is considering an underpass to connect the downtown Main Avenue area to the riverfront area.

A continuously running chairlift would be much more desirable than an underpass. It would pass high above the roads, the views would be great, and it wouldn’t make us go into a damp, dark tunnel. Also, it would be a fun ride for locals and tourists alike. The chairs could have bike racks, like the chairs at Purgatory, so we could take our bikes. There are simple ways to make sure nothing gets dropped on the cars below.

Other towns have lifts to connect communities. It would be great if Durango joined that club.

Robert Ferrell

Durango