From: EvMick@aol.com
Date: Mon Feb 17 2003 - 13:04:35 MST
In a message dated 02/17/2003 11:31:13 AM Central Standard Time,
rafal@smigrodzki.org writes:
> ### I have been thinking about this issue for a long time. It sounds very
> attractive, to have private, competing highway systems. One thing bugs me
> however - the acquisition of the land for roads would be quite difficult.
> You couldn't use eminent domain (or could you?).
>
>
<snip....a lot of stuff regarding land theft (hostile buy out...what a nice
term)>
The idea of private highways has merit. They even exist. The last time I
was in Maine I was informed that Maine's toll road was privately owned.
However...lets examine an alternative. Two alternatives. ...to stealing
land.
One...elevate the highways. There are already EXTREMELY long bridges thru
out the world....I know of one over a swamp (excuse me....and enviromentally
sensitive wet land............a swamp) in Louisana ........about 20 miles
long.
In such a case there would be minimal impact on the existing land use
....similar to wind farms....each tower takes up about 50 x 50 foot of
land......such might be the case of the supporting towers for the elevated
roadway.
Secondly...tunnels. The Eiesenhower tunnel on I-70 west of Denver is several
miles long. It's several decades old....I would guess the tunneling
techniques have improved. I dunno anything about tunnels but it would seem
that they don't interfer with surface use of the land.
EvMick
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