Have you ever noticed, that when changing from one major highway onto another around here, that the exit ramp is one tiny lane that winds around several turns? This means that you have to slow down from 70 to 20, make the tiny little turn, then speed back up to 70 again. And that's when there's no traffic.

Now, imagine that there's lots of traffic, and you have someone out on their leisurely Sunday drive in the front of the long line, contently driving 50 on the freeway in the first place. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But... those of us behind this car are going to quickly have a problem with this person, especially if we're late to work. And since the exits are only one lane, there's no way to get around the one person until you (eventually) manage to make it onto Freeway #2.

Many of these interchanges have been worked on recently. Every time I see one under construction, I've dearly hoped that they're adding a second lane. In some cases, this is true. But not in all cases. In fact, most of the time, when a new interchange between two freeways is built, I don't see what changed in the result, other than the bridges being 500 feet high in the air. (What's up with those bridges, anyway? Ten trucks could fit underneath. A 747 jet could fit underneath!)

So... if any highway designers out there are reading this piece... take this information to heart, and add a second lane for us... please!
06 July 02 bey