Use your brains people

As most of you know, I-5 is going through some major construction. So much so, that the northbound and southbound sides have been completely closed. Right now, southbound is closed. 

Personally, I think this is a great way to do this project. I-5 has had problems from the beginning. One section, called the boat section, is actually built below the level of the river which is causing major issues. I don't know why the decision was made to build it this way, or if it was the right one, but that's the way it is. For a while, I was complaining about the thought process that went into designing a freeway below water level, but was told that the alternative was to have a raised freeway, like the Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco that was so hated. Luckily, nature fixed that mistake. Maybe we should be thankful we didn't do the same thing here. I don't know.

Now, the freeway needs to be fixed. The person in charge of the project suggested closing both sides of the freeway, at different times, for 12-13 days apiece. Another proposal I read said they would one closed one lane at a time, but the project would take three years. Hmm, a month and a half of torture vs three years of delays. Hard call there. Especially since the full closure costs less. My guess fewer man hours are needed when you can just take over the freeway and work instead of doing the whole slow and steady thing.

Am I affected by this change? Yes. Although I rarely drive to work, I often take the bus. But the bus route had become everyone else "alternate" route, making the bus trip a good 15-30 minutes longer than usual. So, I've been riding my bike. I was riding my bike in on a regular basis before, maybe 2-3 a weeks, now, everyday. 

Biking has been promoted as a great alternative. No traffic, good exercise - what could be better? In fact, during the construction, many of the parks are passing out "Survive I-5 Park and Ride" commuter passes for free. These passes allow people to enter any of the county's parks and park for free so they can bike, rollerblade, walk, whatever, into downtown.  What a great idea.

Why, then, why in this freaking world, would the city decided that this Thursday and Friday, the 19th and 20th, in the middle of the southbound closure, to close the main bike trail from discovery park to old Sacramento for repaving. This is the route people take from North Sacramento to get to Downtown. This is the alternate route for those people who can't drive into work. Discovery park is one of the places that has been promoted in the "Survive I-5 Park and Ride" program.  The freeway will be completely open next week!!!!!! They could put off the thing for two days and all would be well.

While double checking all my facts for this story I came across this from news 10, 

"Linda Tucker, spokeswoman for the city's Transportation Department stated that concerns raised by citizens and the news media prompted the city to reschedule the work and take down the signs."

Well, duh! It should not have been this hard for the city to figure out the problem with their timing. The plans for I-5 have been known since, oh, February.

Stupid people.