Opponents: ITD ‘brushed aside’ objections

Natalie Havlina, attorney with Advocates for the West, is giving the opening statement for the opponents of the megaloads. “What is reasonable under these circumstances depends on what is appropriate and isn’t for this particular road,” she said. “This particular road is a scenic byway, it’s the only way for residents to get to the places where they need to go.” She said though 3,500 people have signed petitions against the loads, ITD didn’t consider the public’s concerns about safety and convenience a “primary consideration” as its regulations require. “It brushed them aside lightly as subjective,” she said. She also charged that the department violated its own regulations in making the decision.