Help save trees in Lawton!

Possible Rogers Lane expansion stirs controversy


A request to petition the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to add a Rogers Lane expansion project to the state's eight-year construction list became a debate about saving old-growth trees for some residents and City Council members.

The council voted 6-1 Tuesday to submit that expansion project to ODOT for consideration, with supporters arguing it merely launches the process and that the city is a long way from deciding the ultimate design on a project to expand Rogers Lane between Interstate 44 and Flower Mound Road. Critics, including east Lawton resident Al Caldwell, said the road is sufficient for the drivers that use it and the city shouldn't expand the road because it would mean the loss of numerous trees.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 More...

E-mail the Mayor! The trees in question are 100 Years old and are beautiful.




Mayor John Purcell

jpurcell@cityof.lawton.ok.us

Which is more important, expanding Rogers Lane to reroute heaving traffic from Hwy 62 or to save a 1/4 mile stretch of trees? I'm sure this project has been planned since the first Hwy 62 expansions began over a decade ago, and it is far too late to stop it.

For what it's worth, I enjoy driving that part of Rogers Lane in the spring/summer because of the canopy overlapping the road, but I must agree extending the 4-5 lanes further East would resolve many traffic issues in regards to East/West traffic going from Hwy 62 to Hwy 7 and vise versa. And if you think about it...what about all the trees that were destroyed when Rogers Lane was expanded back in the late 80's? And the landmark dairy that was demolished?

p.s. forget Purcell or anyone else on the council, they do as they please.

Skeeve

Which is more important, expanding Rogers Lane to reroute heaving traffic from Hwy 62 or to save a 1/4 mile stretch of trees?
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I side with the trees:)...............

You are correct about the Mayor and the City Council.

God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches,
and a thousand straining, leveling tempests and floods, but he cannot save them from fools.

-- John Muir

only being pushed because federal matching funds are available. Rogers lane is the onlt scenic drive in Lawton. It is bounded by Indian land, which will not be developed, so there is nowhere for a center turn lane to have any purpose at all. This is yet another huge waste and mistake by the town planners.

... but I am curious to know how this ended up.

I lived in Lawton off and on until 1995 and I have not been back for several years.

Is there still a failing (has to be, many malls are) enclosed shopping mall
sitting in the middle of "downtown" Lawton (let's face it, it's not a real
downtown, it wasn't when I was there. There was just that huge ugly mall that
took up everything).

I've lurked on this board a while but never posted before.