My friend Bill Edmundson of South Pasadena has discovered the "missing link" that can solve the Long Beach Freeway dilemma. He says that his plan will save about half a billion dollars.
Here's the scoop: Convert Meridian Avenue into a four-lane, one-way highway heading south; convert Fremont Avenue into a four-lane, one-way highway heading north. The lanes are already there. The only catch is that you'll need a bucket of paint to slop in the new arrows, and that's going to set you back $5.
East-west crossings on the two highways would be blocked off except for main arteries with traffic lights. Thus, Meridian and Fremont avenues, except for a bit of retooling at their terminals, can immediately serve together as a very passable eight-lane link between existing freeways.
As a quick, cheap compromise, I see Edmundson's gambit as FAMOUS (Fremont and Meridian Open-crossing Unidirectional System).
Advantages of this FAMOUS plan are obvious. Houses and historical sites remain intact; residents are not displaced; on- and off-ramps become unnecessary; years of construction turmoil are eliminated; and Caltrans would save about a half billion green ones.
I urge serious consideration of this FAMOUS plan.
GEORGE W. FEINSTEIN
Altadena
