Roads in southwest Fresno are unfairly neglected

In the last few months, there have been seven or eight new traffic lights installed in the northwest side of Fresno, and not one of them has improved my ability to get around.

I have to find alternate routes to avoid the extra time it takes to get where I am going. The streets are smooth, most of the lawns are green and well-manicured (in case you are wondering why we did not meet our water-cut requirements this month), and we have most of the parks in town.

When I am in the southwest section of Fresno, I also have to plan alternate routes to get to my destinations. It is not because the city coffers are being drained to install unnecessary traffic lights, but rather because repairing roads is apparently more important in the north part of town.

There are sections of Clinton and Olive avenues (both major streets) that remind me of cobblestone lanes in Europe. It almost hurts to drive there. The sad thing is that in this part of town, a large percentage of the residents are taking the drought seriously and letting their lawns go.

Perhaps the city should consider that fact the next time they want to put up another traffic light.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 8:27 AM with the headline "Roads in southwest Fresno are unfairly neglected."