Last week was "Public Works Appreciation Week" I enjoy my job and my co-workers. I made this video in 2006, my second video of striping crew. It looks like everyone on crew is getting older except for me? We actually have a new driver this year, Beau Strutzel, who has caught on fast and is doing an excellent job. Last year our new support Truck driver was(is) Steve Lupton who greatly adds to the team. This year my spotting and marking truck was replaced with a 3/4 ton Ford shortbox Pickup after the old one reached 154,000 miles. We have seen a few "refuge" lanes added- where at T intersections, you can use the center to pull into and then look for traffic to clear. As perWW article below, they are trying hash marks on some corners to see if it slows down motorcycles and this year they are going to add 11 foot lanes in about 4 areas to see if it slows people down and to give bicycles more room. Those areas for now are Entiat, Chelan area and on 97 between Chelan and Pateros. (Maybe the police will think I am going slower than it says on his radar) Could I also remind you that it is against the law and a 124.00 ticket to "drive on Wet Painted Lines" in our state? Even if you don't get caught- it will show up on the side of your car and don't expect the taxpayers to have it removed.
Shrinking highway lanes: It’s just an illusion in some areas, not so much in others, but some state highways seem to be slimming down. Jeff Adamson, spokesman for the North Central regional Department of Transportation office, confirmed that optical speed bars have been strategically placed on Highway 20, east of Loup Loup Pass, and on the Blewett Pass portion of Highway 97, near Ruby Creek, to make the road appear as it is getting more narrow to traffic coming into sharp turns. The optical speed bars — stripes painted on the road — have been used for about two years to slow traffic — especially motorcycles — in areas where there’s been a history of accidents. The DOT and Washington State Patrol are studying the matter to see if the strategy has been effective at slowing traffic and reducing the number of accidents.
Narrow lanes are no illusion on Highway 97A south side of Lake Chelan. Work is underway to chip seal parts of the highway. When the work is complete, the highway will be restriped with lane width reduced from 12 feet to 11 feet in the area from Pat and Mike’s store and Lakeside Park, said Terry Berends, regional DOT traffic engineer. The intent, he said, is to create a “traffic calming” effect in that area and create an additional one foot space along the road edges for pedestrians and bicycles. (From The Worm, WW- 5-25-14)
Superman has become a Lead Tech on Stevens. Good Luck. We miss you.
Two of our former support truck drivers have moved on to be lead techs',
and one of our former drivers is now a superintendent in Ephrata.
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