The Shiloh Road expansion project in Billings west end is moving ahead, but Montana Department of Transportation Director Jim Lynch tells us that the decade old project still has several hurdles to clear.
One of issues is the on-going negotiations over right-of-way access with six property owners, and until those negotiations come to some sort of settlement, the project remains on hold.
Lynch says that topping the list of concerns for land owners is price, access, and the potential for development after the road is built.
In other words, normal expansion althought the word "settlement" in the article doesn't refer to a Jewish revenant community in a portion of the historic Jewish homeland but rather a negotiated financial deal.
And then, I continued reading and was astounded:
"We are talking with all of them and I think we're getting closer with a few and a few, maybe not" explained Lynch. "We haven't reached the point that we're done talking, when that happens then we might have to look at what some of the other alternatives may be [be]fore the department to keep this project on track."
Lynch adds that one alternative could be yet another design change, and as a last resort, the Department of Transportation could move to condemn the property.
Did you notice that?
To build a road, the local government is going to offer money to six property owners who are literally in the way, and if that doesn't work, the property will be taken away as condemned because the government has decided that they are done talking.
And it's probably legal, too.
Ah, America.
Ah, democracy.
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