Patience needed during busy road work season
Today’s hassles will mean smoother travel in the future
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Just when local drivers think they have seen enough orange signs, barricades and road cones they are presented with some more of them.
Two more road projects have been added to what is already a robust year for construction projects.
Iowa Highway 7, the heavily traveled route between Fort Dodge and Manson, is closed while crews replace a railroad crossing that has rattled vehicles and their drivers for years.
And next week, the intersection of Second Avenue North and 15th Street will close so that it can be completely rebuilt. It was actually expected to close this week, but the closure was pushed back because delivery of some pre-cast concrete components for storm drains was delayed. Once the intersection is closed, it will remain shut down through November.
While the inconvenience they cause is real, we must remember that these projects are good ones that will benefit people for years to come.
The railroad grade crossing, for instance, has been bumpy for years. It has damaged vehicles and was linked to at least one crash that had nothing to do with any trains and everything to do with the condition of the crossing.
The intersection of Second Avenue North and 15th Street has been the scene of many crashes over the years. Redoing it was initially proposed as part of a bigger project that would have reduced North 15th Street to three lanes. The City Council got an earful from residents who were totally opposed to the three-lane concept, but even those critics asked the elected officials to go forward with the intersection work.
Instead of cursing as they work their way through the detours, perhaps drivers ought to focus on how much smoother and less stressful their daily trips will be after all this work is done.
While it may seem like it sometimes, no one is closing intersections or rerouting traffic to make people late.
People may want to think about starting their daily commutes a bit earlier to cope with the construction projects. And they should also watch their speed because the fines for speeding in work zones is double the usual amount.
The construction season calls for patience and consideration from the rest of us so that road workers can make things better for everyone.