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December 7, 1971 County Commission Indian River County Vero Beach, Florida 32960 Gentlemen: This is a formal request for an investigation into the heavy truck traffic problem that has de- veloped on Forty -Third Avenue. When I-95 opened to Route 60, the problem began, and it has become steadily worse until we feel the safety of our children is in jeopardy. The road department has a truck route west of Vero Beach, but it took a very short time for the word to spread that the quickest route to the turnpike was route 60 to the first light at Forty -Third Avenue; turn right to Indrio Road, and then a short distance to the turnpike feeder, with only one stop sign on Forty -Third Avenue. This way they don't have to go to U. S. 1, and then backtrack to the turnpike feeder road. There is a steady stream of large semi -trailer trucks, buses, auto -transport trucks, etc. Other than the serious safety hazard on Forty -Third Avenue, we know our new road was not built to handle these monstrous vehicles. We hate to see it destroyed before something is done. The area affected on Forty -Third Avenue is zoned residential. Many homes front directly on this road and there are many more in subdivisions that have their entrance on Forty -Third Avenue. Two schools in the area; Rosewood and Citrus; have students walking to school along Forty -Third Avenue. The junior High and High School students also walk or ride bicycles to their bus stops on this road There are no sidewalks or bicycle paths for these children to use and they must walk or ride on the road. The appearance of the road is quite deceptive to any driver not familiar with the area. The planting bides most of the homes and a driver could easily believe he was in a rural area rather than a fairly dense residential area. This probably accounts for the trucks speeding past our homes. The obvious answer to the problem is the extension of I-95 to the turnpike. Until last Sunday, we held some hope this would be done. Since this has been denied, we feel it imperative that ' another solution be forthcoming immediately before a child's life is lost. We have made our concern known to those in authority as indicated by the story in the Miami Herald, December 7, 1971, entitled, "neuter Predicts I-95 Stall Problem Probe." We as resi- dents of Vero Beach realize that this is not just our problcrn. There are other arteries in our town suffering from the enormous traffic load. Twenty-seventh Avenue and Route 60 through town are two severely affected. It has also become a state wide problem as indicated by the Miami Herald, December 7th editorial titled "The Incredible Missing Link." We know the ultimate solution will take timre e to resolve. Therefor we earnestly petition you to find an immediate solution to the heavy through truck traffic on Forty -Third Avenue before we must be moved by a tragedy to act. Our sincerest thanks for your cooperation. a. 14 X 546 DEC eg 1971 I 9