I thought the true locals were marched off to Oklahoma
True dat! sad but true dat that is.
Walton Sun compares Removal of Blue Signs to Widening Hwy 331
- Thread starter Smiling JOe
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True dat! sad but true dat that is.
I believe T Pagels misses the objective to make a point. If the objective of all Big Blue Sign haters were to rally support to keep South Walton beautiful by taking down those awful signs, why would supporters to keep South Walton beautiful rally behind the idea of four laning 331 to increase congestion and commercialism? Isn't the example set by the town of Seaside enough to keep those supporters away? I grew up in Miami in the 60's and remember it when it wasn't so congested. My advice to South Walton would be stop pushing to four lane 331. Stop churning out all the advertising about being a coastal dune lake area. Sit there quietly and let the rest of the world go by and enjoy one of the most beautiful spots on this earth for as long as you can. Cause it's coming and will be there soon enough. Believe me, the machine is coming.
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5thGen the current bridge is not blocking commerce from this area and I don't beleive that a larger bridge would encourage it either.
That being said the need for a wider bridge is a matter of safety. IF a hurricane were to hit during the July 4th week it would be quite the nightmare trying to get out of South Walton. Keep in mind that an evacuation sends evacuees inland. So the old argument of going East or West to escape thru Bay or Okaloosa counties would also be a near impossibility. Perhaps you remember when Opal hit and many residents of Bay County waited out the storm on Hwy 231.
Sowalgayboi, my post was not focusing on the improved public safety a four laned 331 would bring with regard to the evacuation route. I believe we can all agree that is a good thing. My post did however focus on the objective of those wanting to keep South Walton beautiful. I agree with you in that the current bridge does not block commerce from the area, and that a larger bridge in and of itself will not encourage it. But with the population on the rise in coastal communities like South Walton, a four laned 331 will enable both commercialism and congestion to increase. It is inevitable. Once the machine begins to take over an area, there is very little a community can do to stop it's insatiable appetite. The best the community can hope for to guard against the pollution that lays in the wake of the machine is to stay informed, stay united in their desire to keep what is beautiful and stay active in local politics, so they have a say in the laws and ordinances that effect the machine. While it's good to be happy that a wider evacuation route improves the safety for those living and vacationing in South Walton, don't be blind to what else a four laned 331 means for the area.
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A four-laned 331 would mean a safer commute for all of my co-workers (as well as most of SoWal's workforce), and a safer drive for me and my cataracts when I come off I-10 late at night. These are good things. 
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