In his bestselling book, The Road Less Traveled, Morgan Scott Peck, wrote: Confronting and solving problems is a painful process which most of us attempt to avoid. And the very avoidance results in greater pain and an inability to grow both mentally and spiritually.
In some respects Pecks commentary could be applied to the furor that has occurred from old Highway 169 between Iola and Humboldt, and on to the south, becoming the unofficial detour while a huge rebuild of U.S. 169 unfolds.
Those who live along the county road and those who have used it as a common artery for years have been put upon by the increase in traffic. Meeting as many as 50, 60, even 90 vehicles in a journey over the 10 miles between Iola and Humboldt isnt unusual.
Allen County commissioners redid the speed limit to 45 miles an hour Iola-to-Humboldt in an attempt to keep traffic under control, though many are too impatient to follow the law. No-passing zones are an ample part of the route as well, and they are not always obeyed.
Over-the-road trucks with no local stops are prohibited, but curtailing all of that portion of usage is next to impossible, particularly since county deputies arent certified to deal with such violations, and Highway Patrol troopers, who are, have an occasional presence on the road, but have other duties with which to deal.
We suspect that as time goes on, Allen Countians who are distressed will learn to live with the greater traffic flow, most motorists, as many now do, will learn to accept the lower speed limit and, in 18 months, whatever problems that persist will be solved by completion of work on the newer highway.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Bryan Murphy will have his officers patrol more on the shortcut they have logged about 40 hours of overtime since U.S. 169 was closed and their presence will have an effect. However, it is not possible to patrol the road 24/7, and motorists who are willing to disobey speed limits and other rules of the road will continue to do so.
Our fervent desire we use the road several times a week is that even with traffic glitches no mishaps of significance will occur, neighbors of the road will adjust and accept what they cant control and rebuild of the new highway will progress at godspeed.
In other words, we must confront the problem, offer solutions as commissioners have and find personal ways to avoid pain by accepting what we cant change.
— Bob Johnson
