Answering a letter in a roundabout way

Believe it or not, there is a mail sack for this column. Into this special mail sack go all the letters raising serious and thoughtful issues that should be of concern to all of us.

OK. Some of the letters aren't so serious or thoughtful. But they still go into the same mail sack. This column has a strict nondiscrimination policy regarding letters.

As for emails, what can I say? Anybody can say anything in an email. Worse than that are the comments on news stories on newspaper websites. Not only can anybody say anything in these comments, they can do it anonymously.

Some letters, the kind written typed on real paper, are anonymous, too. Like this one:

"Dear Joe,

"I know you have tried to look out for the best interests of Cape Girardeau over the years, but don't you think it's time for someone in authority to do something about the traffic lights at major intersections along Kingshighway? Because the lights are so unresponsive to actual traffic flow, Kingshighway has become a physical barrier that divides our fair city. Motorists west of Kingshighway hate to try to go downtown, and motorists downtown hate to try to get the west side of the city, Sometimes you sit for a long time at an intersection watching empty lanes. I wonder how much gasoline is wasted by vehicles idling at stoplights along Kingshighway. I know you will give my thoughtful letter a thoughtful reply.

"Seriously Concerned"

Yes, Seriously Concerned, I know exactly what you mean. And it's not just Kingshighway intersections where the lights fail to respond to actual traffic flow. There are plenty of others that make you wait for no reason at all.

That's why I have become such a big fan of well-designed roundabouts. I say "well-designed" because this city has a not-so-great history for constructing poorly designed roundabouts, resulting in traffic problems worse than what previously existed.

The roundabout at Lexington and Route W is a well-designed roundabout. Traffic flow is maintained regardless of the number of vehicles trying to get through that intersection. The roundabout at Morgan Oak and Fountain has the basics to be a good roundabout, but it is a visual hazard, particularly at night. A bit of color differentiation on this roundabout's curbs would go a long way toward making it more navigable.

Roundabouts at major intersections along Kingshighway could well be the solution to the erratic traffic flow. Starting from the north, the Lexington-Mount Auburn, Cape Rock, Broadway, Independence, William, Bloomfield and Southern Expressway intersections would all be good candidates for roundabouts. Other intersections, including the one at William and West End and the one at Independence-Gordonville-Rodney, would be served well with a roundabout.

With so many roundabouts, Cape Girardeau could become known for its roundabout landscaping and art. Just as our murals have become a draw for visitors as well as feeding the artistic appetite of its citizens, roundabouts filled with shrubs and flowers and outdoor art could have a tremendous impact on our civic landscape.

And don't think I have forgotten my suggestion of several months ago regarding a statue of a Missouri mule in the middle of the Lexington-Route W roundabout. The mule is one of our state's symbols, and it deserves to be recognized everywhere, but particularly in Cape Girardeau, home of the effort to place the mule into Missouri's pantheon.

So, Seriously Concerned, I hope this gives you some fat to chew on. Be patient, however. Great ideas seldom come to life overnight. But mark my words: Someday the efficiency and sensibility of roundabouts at most major intersections will be a welcome part of our motorized landscape.

Really.

Joe Sullivan is the retired editor of the Southeast Missourian.