Explore All The Options For Baxter Road And The Bluff

To the editor: I’m not sure everyone is aware that Nantucket taxpayers face a big bill when a storm wipes out Baxter Road. Without protection, the road will erode immediately. That’s why the town has come up with a plan for alternative access. The problem is, the town estimates that alternative access will cost the taxpayers $30 million.

This is a big cost! Is there an alternative option?

What if protection could be installed on the bluff, saving the homes and the road? Then private homeowners might pay for the protection, at least most of it, and taxpayers would be spared the huge bill. Whatever would be installed would need to be tested to see if it actually works. Like a pilot project, it would need to be in for a few years, go through major storms, and demonstrate zero erosion at the level of the road. Then, if it worked, it makes sense to me that the town would vote to extend the project and save itself a whole lot of money.

It’s worth talking about as a town.

Sincerely,
Emily Van Dixhoorn