Road construction calls for attitude adjustment
I’m allergic to the color orange. Every time I see it, I start to itch all over.
Then my heart starts racing and I break into a cold sweat. Specifically, I’m allergic to orange traffic signs.
You know the ones I mean. The ones that announce DETOUR or ROAD CLOSED.
I read recently that many area road projects are finishing ahead of schedule. Fantastic news for those of us who spend a good portion of each day in our cars. I’m guardedly optimistic. I’ve found optimism and road work aren’t very compatible.
Last week I was in a hurry to get from the North Side to the South Hill. I optimistically believed that the Maple/Ash project would be nearing completion. I was wrong and spent 15 minutes trying to find an alternate route.
Peggy Gilliland, traffic safety coordinator for the Spokane Traffic Safety Commission, said, “I advise people to listen to the news and check The Spokesman-
Review for the latest on construction updates and road delays. See if you can plan an alternate route.”
Unfortunately, her advice came after my Maple Street mix-up. It also arrived after I spent the longest 20 minutes of my life stuck on the Pines Road exit. It took exactly that many minutes for me to move from the exit ramp to Pines Road. It felt like 20 years.
But while stuck in my car I did develop several helpful hints for fellow travelers.
DO: Have bottled water with you. Trooper Tony Olivas of the Washington State Patrol said, “During the summer months you might consider carrying some extra water, flashlight, cell phone and a full tank of gas.”
DON’T: Drink all your bottled water while on the Pines Road off-ramp. There’s not even any foliage to hide behind when that water hits home. Plus, Trooper Olivas said, “We recommend everyone remain in their vehicles for their own safety.”
DO: Look on the bright side. Local author and life and spiritual coach Susie Leonard Weller said, “Most of us want time to ourselves.” She said her brother-in-law learned to play the harmonica and speak Spanish while enduring his Seattle-to-Redmond commute.
DON’T: Make it worse. Weller said, “You’re either going to manage the stress or make it worse.” Letting feelings of rage or frustration overwhelm is harmful to the body and the soul.
DO: Use the time to take care of small tasks like flossing your teeth or jotting notes for an upcoming meeting.
DON’T: Engage in personal hygiene that may make the driver next to you nauseous. Yes, I’m talking to the man who plucked nose hairs while stuck next to me on the Hastings/395 detour. I’m not sure if he was using tweezers or a small scissors, but I’m pretty certain Trooper Olivas would advise against having sharp objects in your nose while driving.
DO: Stay comfortable. Take off your jacket or shoes, loosen your tie.
DON’T: Attempt to remove pantyhose. A few weeks ago while enduring the Sullivan Road detour I decided my pantyhose had to go. The flaggers waved us on just when I’d got the hose down to my knees. My control-tops acted like a very tight rubber band and began to cut off circulation to my lower extremities. I’m not sure what the fellow in the silver Lexus behind me thought as I shimmied those nylons downward, but he appeared to be driving at least as erratically as I was.
DO: Remain calm and behave courteously – especially if your kids are with you. Peggy Gilliland recommends having soothing music on hand, or playing car games like I SPY with the kids.
DON’T: Use the time to quiz your teen about his relationship with his girlfriend, college plans or anything else that will cause him to roll down the window and scream, “I hate my mother!” Not that I would know anything about that.
Summer and orange roadwork signs go hand in hand. Planning ahead is still the best way to travel stress-free. As Gilliland said, “We’re all in this together, and getting upset won’t get you to your destination any sooner.”