A dozen or so years ago, Calhoun Road experienced a minor landslide on the north side of U.S. 2. The slide was caused due to Snohomish County’s neglect to maintain the road. Water flowing down the hillside and lack of ditch maintenance allowed surface water to undermine the road bed, causing it to fall. Despite Snohomish County’s promise to repair the road, to this day it has failed to do so, citing the high cost of repair as an excuse.
Snohomish County, nevertheless, did not hesitate to raise my property taxes this year on some farmland nearby, on U.S. 2.
I am the owner of the Monroe Station, at the corner of U.S. 2 and Calhoun Road. I’ve been told that before the construction of U.S. 2, Calhoun Road was the only east-west link to Stevens Pass. This road continued to serve the important function of allowing folks living on the Old Owen’s plateau in Monroe, a second outlet onto U.S. 2. It also allowed them more direct access to the businesses at Monroe Station. Just as important, however, if not more so, was the emergency outlet Calhoun Road provided in case of a temporary closure of Old Owen’s Road, near the Woods Creek bridge in Monroe. God forbid, should this happen someday, the homeowners in the Old Owen’s Road area will be trapped and the only alternative for them will be an inconvenient and time-consuming detour to Sultan! For those folks living on or near Old Owen’s Road, an area exploding with new housing, this secondary outlet is of utmost importance.
It is high time for Snohomish County to meet its obligations and open up Calhoun Road. Letters to Councilman Dave Somers may provide desperately needed leadership on this worsening perennial problem.
MARC BHEND
Lynnwood
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
