Road construction
Road construction, slow constucksion. It is everywhere you go. I had an estimate
the other day and I came upon a roundabout to go through. The exit, I needed to
exit out of shutdown. A big red barricade,
with a stop sign right there. I did not
notice the detour sign prior to this exit. According to my directions, there was the
house I was looking for. Right there on
the corner of all this mess. I could not get there. It was right there in my
sights and I could not reach it.
So yes I did, I went around the roundabout one more time and
took the exit next to the one I needed. Hung a U-turn and parked on the side of
the road. Locked the doors and walked to the house. The person, I was going to
meet was watching me. When I got to the door the first thing he said laughingly
was “I wish I could do that.” He went on to say how he has to go all the way
around about 1 mile out of his way, just to get to his driveway.
Construction people are very oblivious to traffic around
them. Why should they be, they are amongst traffic all day and I am sure it all
becomes a blur.
Years ago, when I was driving school bus, yah, I have had
many jobs. I like to think of it as I am well crossed trained in many things.
Anyways, those people (you know, the ones that have these wonderful project to ensure
our safety) were putting in a new stop light on a very busy hwy. They had temporary
lights up while they worked on the permanent lights.
I was driving 30 some
elementary school children in the bus at the time. The light was green going my
way so there was no problem until a worker darted out into traffic in his
small work vehicle. ERRRRT, I am sure I laid
rubber, slammed on the breaks and barely missed hitting him. The car next to me
was not so lucky. He caught the tail end
of the small vehicle.
I do not know if I did the automatic arm stick out because I
was too busy reacting to the vehicle suddenly in front of me! I doubt very much
it would have worked anyways!
“WOO HO” “LETS DO THAT AGAIN” the little girl in the front
seat yelled out after it was all over and I was pulled safely over on the side
of the road.
WHAT? I Asked. I turned around and all the kid were laughing
and gathering their stuff that had just flown all over the bus. “This is why I
tell you kids to sit down all the time”, I yelled, at all of them. Funny how
after that they sat in their seats. Ok maybe just for the rest of the week.
At any rate, it is road construction season so please be careful
and be alert.
