Article

2007-02-16 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

Hundreds stranded on PA interstate system waiting for help

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Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-02-16 12:25|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The governor of PA, Fat Eddie Rendell, is so busy grabbing with both hands that there is no longer such a thing as overtime at PennDOT. Being that snow has to be dealt with WHEN IT COMES, which might very well be outside of the 9am-5pm window, well, yeah, there is a bit of a problem. PA will not be my home state much longer. On top of Katrina, people should be waking up to the idea that government at all levels is abdicating its responsibility for the things it should do as it looks hungrily at taking over things it simply ain't supposed to do...

Posted by M. Murcek">M. Murcek 2007-02-16 14:52|| 2007-02-16 14:52|| Front Page Top

#2 amazingly, the San Diego freeway system continues to operate freely, albeit at a temporally-diminished level of service around 8AM and 5PM, despite the punishing 75 degree (hey, it's winter)beating of Sun and UV rays. It's hell, I tell ya

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-02-16 17:12|| 2007-02-16 17:12|| Front Page Top

#3 AH-"Distinguished" highway system?

I have driven through 28 of the 50 states and hands down would rate Pennsylvania as having the worst highway maintenance system. On another winter like this one-with ice and snow, I was unfortunate enough to have to travel the highway heading southwest from New York past Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. A day after the storm, for miles and miles, the road was striped with refrozen ice that was daggered up in shapes like you find when driving the wrong way into a rental car return. On two other occasions I drove through Pennsylvania and found the state of the roads abysmal-as if regular plowing and salting hadn't occurred to anyone.

Yes, granted, it is tricky to keep roads in a rugged terrain like Pennsylvania clear, but the fact that hundreds have been stranded after this storm doesn't surprise me a bit.

To PA folks-no offense to your state-it's lovely. But the roads are neglected.

Posted by Jules 2007-02-16 18:27|| 2007-02-16 18:27|| Front Page Top

#4 A day after the storm, for miles and miles, the road was striped with refrozen ice that was daggered up in shapes like you find when driving the wrong way into a rental car return

LOL Jules! Damn, I wish I could write like that...

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-02-16 18:41|| 2007-02-16 18:41|| Front Page Top

#5 "This was an exceptional screw-up even for the distinguished PA highway system."

I gotta root around in my collection of State Quarters, and find the one for Pennsylvania: I'm pretty sure it says, "The 'Not My Job' State" on the back...

Posted by Dave D.">Dave D. 2007-02-16 20:40|| 2007-02-16 20:40|| Front Page Top

#6 Frank-:)

You do, hon. I may have a colorful vocabulary, but I think you have me beat when it comes to pithy comments.

Posted by Jules 2007-02-16 20:40|| 2007-02-16 20:40|| Front Page Top

#7 Jules, I was being facetious. I agree with you & I've driven extensively in 47 of the contiguous 48 states. Especially when road surface clearing is inadequate, the interstates should be closed in really bad weather, as states like CO & NM did several times this winter. I guess they have an interest in protecting the traveling public, unlike PA.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-02-16 20:41|| 2007-02-16 20:41|| Front Page Top

#8 OK, gotcha. Sorry 'bout that. :}

Posted by Jules 2007-02-16 21:05|| 2007-02-16 21:05|| Front Page Top

#9 There have only been two time in my life that driving the highway has made me cry. The second was the morning after we landed in Germany, when Mr. Wife made me drive him to the office on the Autobahn, as we had only the one car, no access to public transportation or telephone, and without the car I wouldn't be able to get to the shops for food before they closed. The first was the first time we drove back to Buffalo, NY after we settled in Ohio; I'd only had my driver's license for a few months, and I'd just taken my turn at the wheel when we crossed from Ohio into Pennsylvania on the I-90. It was one of the warm-cycle Novembers, so no snow or anything, but construction closeed the highway down to one narrow, weaving lane the entire length of the state. I'd never had to thread the needle before (shoot, I'd never driven on a highway before!) and there was nowhere to stop. I don't recall seeing anyone actually working on the road either, but it could be that my memory is a bit narrowly focussed. It took ages for me to stop shaking after we crossed into NY and Mr. Wife took over. Oh, and that must have been 1981, so the PennDOT approach must not be specific to this administration.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-02-16 21:05|| 2007-02-16 21:05|| Front Page Top

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