Letters To The Editor

Highway 395 left turn lane hazardous

I live in the Valley, Wash., area and commute to Spokane via Highway 395 four days a week. Within the last few weeks, a new Shell service station has opened about halfway between Deer Park and Spokane, on the east side of Highway 395. While this service station was being built, I wondered what kind of road modifications and speed changes would be established to make this new business safe from both northbound and southbound lanes of traffic. I was really shocked to see that Highway 395 has been re-routed so that a lefthand turn lane could be inserted in what had been the southbound passing lane. The recipe for disaster is pretty obvious.

Last Friday evening as I drove north and approached the vicinity of this new business, I had to slow down abruptly so that three 10- to 13-year-old children could cross Highway 395 from west to east. I assume that they were headed to the Shell station for some candy and/or pop. A moment later I had to slam an my brakes when a pickup truck towing a boat turned in front of me from the new left turn lane to enter the service station.

My fear is that a serious collision or pedestrian disaster will occur near this poorly planned new attraction. Many tourists and commuters exceed the 55 mph speed limit on this already inadequate highway. At the very least we need to install lighted signs to warn both drivers and pedestrians of the newly created hazard. Ken C. Breiter Valley, Wash.