Just finished reading the Sept. 8 In My View piece against the proposed Sisters passing lane to Tollgate Road to ease traffic congestion and the frustrations of such that leads to bad driving habits, most notably illegal passing.

This is a step in the right direction. However, I would propose an even more ambitious one: Start the bypass at the junction of routes 20/126 and take it to Tollgate Road, heck Suttle Lake. Let’s dare to dream.

Route 20 is an important route between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon. It is a pleasant drive except for the section of WestWorld called Sisters that holds people literally hostage by reducing the speed to 20 mph. Accidents are narrowly avoided as doe-eyed tourists fall out onto the downtown street, with a quilt in one hand and a vanilla tofu yogurt frappaola mocha in the other, figuring the slow traffic will naturally stop for them. It is almost like the city fathers and mothers of Sisters hope to lull you into staying for awhile: You can wait in your car or pull in and buy a Navajo turquoise barista mug extolling their Western heritage, even if the Navajo Nation is thousands of miles away.

So, I say, build the bypass, and add turning lanes. The few trees cut down can be used for yet another Sister’s festival, perhaps totem pole carving or a lumberjack contest.

Tony Koleszar

Bend