We members of NFDB, (National Federation of Dependent Business, not to be confused with those independent types over at NFIB) you know who we are. The president identified us quite clearly the other day when he said, "If you've got a business - you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

Be that as it may, we read with interest the "Let's make a deal" article in the Aug. 1 Press. It seems that the Idaho Transportation Department desperately wants to get rid of its scenic 5-mile lakeshore road to nowhere. So desperately in fact that they are offering whoever takes it over, the city of Coeur d'Alene in this case, $3 million just to take it off their hands. Talk about the president's "Somebody invested in roads and bridges" statement. Apparently ITD is paying out big bucks to un-invest in roads and bridges.

Anyway, reading the article and viewing its accompanying photos brought back a rush of fond memories. Do you remember, after fighting your way over high-mountain passes and through smoke filled mining towns, how refreshing it was to end your trip along the tree lined shore and clear blue waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene? You always knew you were home. That was up until 1991.

In 1991, that all changed. In 1991, "somebody invested in roads and bridges," and built a brand new four-lane highway completely bypassing the scenic stretch of road along the lake. This new highway included a new bridge across the creek that feeds Bennett Bay. Now folks, when we say bridge, we're not talking a culvert to carry the creek under the road during spring runoff. We're talking world-class bridge. This sucker extends from hilltop to hilltop across the whole valley for a third of a mile. It carries four lanes of traffic and soars 300 feet above the valley floor. When you're up there driving, you almost think you're flying. They've even got a windsock up there to add a visual to the experience. Originally named the Bennett Bay Centennial Bridge, in 1992 the Idaho Legislature renamed it Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge, thus adding a patriotic note to the shrine. The entire project came in at $20 million and was considered a complete success. That bridge went on to win more awards than you can shake a stick at.

Apparently forgotten in the hullabaloo, was a connection between the old road and the new one. Thus to this day, the old highway just leads out of town for about 5 miles and comes to an abrupt end where it collides with what is now the Interstate at Higgens Point. Along it, a walk, jog, run, or bicycle path has been added. As with any road that leads to nowhere there is very little traffic, so the whole stretch has become rather popular with the walk, jog, run, and bicycle crowd. But after 20 years of maintaining a road to nowhere that they created, apparently ITD has said enough is enough. They want somebody else to take over and they're willing to throw in $3 million to make that happen.

Now do you suppose that this is the roads and bridges somebodys; the somebody-elses that made that happen the president has been talking about? If you've got a business that you didn't build, what would you do with $3 million? Would you give it to them? Apparently you're going to through taxation whether you want to or not.

Bob La Rue is a Hauser resident.