Locally, the interstate is under major construction in more than one area. To accomplish this construction, detours are built, two lanes of traffic are still available, but barrier walls don't allow a shoulder and the walls of death are formed. Accidents are many, access to many areas is only one way from the opposite direction, and in some rural areas, the available emergency assistance is substantially less than in a city.
There was a fatal motorcycle accident yesterday. A man from halfway across Texas was riding his Harley, decided to pass a semi on the right side, hit the barrier wall, and fell under the wheels of the trailer. Why he did this is beyond my comprehension, but I have a feeling impatience was a key factor.
It's almost a daily occurrence to have a major accident in these areas, and fatalities are few, but the mayhem is daily. One section has been under construction for the lion's share of a decade, and will probably be outdated at completion. Two new major interchanges just started in a local city, and are projected to last for many years. The walls of death will be placed soon, and the mayhem will commence.
And here I thought it was only OH and FL with the crazy road construction never-ending mayhem.
ReplyDeleteMan, you are so right. There are few things scarier than driving 75 with a semi on one side, and a wall of death on the other...inches away.
ReplyDeleteI've pulled lowboy trailers behind pickups through those types of construction zones. It wasn't pleasant, and I feel for the semi drivers that navigate through the narrow lanes.
ReplyDelete@Jess-
ReplyDeleteI'd rather be in a big truck than a pickup because I know exactly where my tires are. But I consider myself a driver rather than a steering wheel holder that's afraid of that Jerzy wall.
All things considered, I'd rather take a surface road if I can than get caught in a construction zone.