These may possibly be the last words written on
these pages about the Edgewood Road controversy between Cape Elizabeth
and South Portland.

    Does anyone want to take that bet?

    As stated before, we believe there were better
options available to the South Portland City Council than creating two
dead end roads out of one through street, but in their wisdom five of
seven councilors believed blocking access between the old Edgewood Road
and the new Red Oak Drive will finally put this matter to rest.

    Given South Portland's track record on this issue,
the possibility that they will have the final word does not seem so
assured. This issue has been a tremendous waste of taxpayer's money and
the time and resources of the city's staff. By closing the street, the
council has virtually assured that more of all three will be expended
on further lawsuits– whatever their merit.

    Mayor Claude Morgan's statement in our page 1 story
that Edgewood could have been made a dead end street "a long time ago,"
should be met with skepticism. Taking away the two Cape Elizabeth
residents' access before Red Oak Drive became a public road would have
been costly well beyond what the city has already paid. Cape Elizabeth
officials knew this and still accepted the roads in January.

    Instead of recognizing the act as an indication that
Cape was willing to negotiate in good faith, the city of South Portland
rushed to close the road almost immediately.

    The oft-repeated refrain that this has been going on
for ten years seems to ignore the fact that the road has only been open
for a few years. To imply that increased traffic has been an issue for
a decade or more is dishonest.       
    

–Ward Peck