Utility companies vast plans to cross South Idaho with more power lines could actually benefit travelers, by symbiotically bringing improvements to the rudimentary Minidoka to Arco road. Ultimately, if planned right, in conjunction with farsighted transportation department leaders, an improved road through that remote area would save motorists who travel the evermore popular route between Magic Valley and the Challis / Salmon area, a few hours each trip.
A workable plan like this, reminds me of another unique power-line solution proposed by an idealistic friend, which I would like to elaborate on in the MagicValley.com reader discussion forum, if the Times-News print this letter.
A third item, not many people are blogging about, is another important costly infrastructure aspect, which we will likely be saddled with, inside of 10 years. It’s easy to predict that older power lines across the country will begin deteriorating en masse, due to the reaching of the end of the line of their expected lifespans. As will ancient bridges, water, sewerage, gas and oil pipelines.
However, it’s not fashionable for politicians to blow a bunch of hot steam complaining about imminently needed infrastructure improvements, when so few of their constituents are willing to listen to the tedious subject. And why should our elected officials waste their precious time writing the words to a sermon no one wants to hear, until after the collapse? Who wouldn’t agree that liberating expensive ski hills from fires and hauling in truckloads of sand for washed-out resort beaches are more apt issues of the day for the leaders fickle constituents?
In the meantime, notch a friendly reminder onto the beginning of your next Mayan Calendar, to be prepared for frequent brownouts and worse, throughout our country within the decade, due to our infectious infrastructure-deficit-disorder.
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