RSS
The Road Watcher says Farewell
Road Watch, Sept. 12, John’s Last Column
“I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain…” goes an old James Taylor song. And to that, this retiring reporter-columnist can add I’ve seen my share of flood disasters, infernos and blizzards over the years as a reporter. You think last winter was bad, how about the Blizzard of ’96?
It seems I somehow always landed on some highway or roadblocked street during nearly four decades of chasing all kinds of news including crime, explosions, politics and train wrecks.
I’ll never forget the sunny June morning in 1987 when two robbers being pursued went the wrong way on I-95 in Lower Chichester and crashed head-on into a Delaware state trooper who was critically injured. The two female suspects, who later tested positive for cocaine in their systems, and a toddler were killed in the horrific crash.
Climbing up a steep embankment off a side road to reach the accident scene, I had to take a deep breath after seeing all the carnage.
I’ll never forget the Saturday morning around one Memorial Day weekend when an oil tanker erupted in flames after a collision on I-95 in Chester, taking its toll on drivers and severely buckling the hig-hway. The late veteran state Senator Clarence D. Bell of Upland was already on the highway, in jeans and rubber boots, monitoring the wreckage.
As a result of the serious damage to the highway and infrastructure, PennDOT had to reroute traffic partially on the opposite side of the interstate. Complain all you want about PennDOT not getting around to fix a particular pothole after a winter thaw, but the state agency came through ahead of time in repairing the highway in about a month that summer.
On a more positive note, while on another highway, I was there for the grand opening of the Blue Route (I-476) on Dec. 19, 1991 – which will have its 20th anniversary next year. I endured the frigid temperatures that were made worse by a wind tunnel effect underneath the Lawrence Road overpass as then Governor Robert Casey and Sen. Bell cut the ribbon.
It was truly a milestone in road construction for a much needed north-south expressway in the county connecting I-95 with the turnpike following a lengthy controversial struggle that spanned several decades. Unfortunately, it became nearly obsolete by the time it was completed, no thanks to opposition pressure groups that succeeded in having the highway funneled from six lanes to four lanes below West Chester Pike (Route 3).
I also lost count of how many times I stood in water and foul-smelling mud reporting on the aftermath of floods in Chester, Darby Borough, Chester Township and Upper Darby that clogged local streets and devastated homes and businesses, and a YMCA in Chester.
I guess you could say being on the road just comes with the territory being a reporter.
Thanks for reading Road Watch and Road Rant. Please watch traffic conditions and not your handheld cell phone while driving under the influence of conversation.
Pet Peeves
Here are some pet peeves I want to get off my chest with this farewell column.
BULLET Why don’t motorists turn on their headlights when they use their windshield wipers in the rain? It’s state law.
BULLET Why doesn’t PennDOT paint new left-turn arrows in the two left lanes of West Chester Pike (Route 3) westbound before Lawrence Road? Can’t tell you how many drivers get stuck in the turn lane and pull out dangerously in front of motorists in the proper lane going straight.
BULLET Why don’t any cops enforce the law against covering your license plate with plastic which is often faded yellow or makes it hard to read the plate in the sun’s glare?
BULLET Why are there so many vehicles with extremely dark tinted windows on the driver’s side and front passenger windows? Makes it hard for anyone – including police – to identify a reckless driver or miscreant.
BULLET Why don’t concrete and other contractors clean off their truck license plates covered with concrete or mud, making it hard to identify them in the event of a traffic infraction?
BULLET Why aren’t there more left-turn, green arrow signals at busy, bad intersections like Route 320 South at Route 3, and at Baltimore Pike and Oak Lane and other busy corners, but yet they are installed at less busy intersections?
BULLET Why are drivers exiting the Blue Route North at Exit 9 at West Chester Pike allowed to make right turns on red with eastbound pike traffic barreling down an incline?
BULLET Those “Beware of Aggressive Drivers” signs on highways instead should say “Aggressive Drivers, Beware” (of the law).
BULLET Although it’s not wintertime yet, I can’t believe how many lazy motorists never clean off their snow-bound roofs, hoods and rear windows and trunks before hitting the road. Who wants their windshield to get hit by flying snow and ice from the driver in front of them?
BULLET Now that autumn is approaching, don’t forget that fallen leaves on the road can be dangerously slippery when you brake.
Ben Franklin Bridge Lighting
For most of September, the Ben Franklin Bridge will be arrayed in blue and green lighting to support Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
“The Delaware River Port Authority is joining with the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation and the Southern New Jersey Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition to remind people of the importance of regular medical checkups,” said DRPA CEO John J. Matheussen.
Labor Day Toll
During the four-day Labor Day holiday driving period, nine people died and 271 others were injured in 754 crashes investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Eight of those killed were not wearing seat belts, said Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski. He noted that 83 of the crashes were alcohol-related, including two of the fatal crashes.
Troopers arrested 374 persons for driving under the influence, issued 8,105 speeding citations, cited 679 for failing to wear seat belts, and issued 66 citations for not securing children in safety seats.
In the previous Labor Day holiday period in 2009, nine people also were killed and 285 others were injured in 654 crashes investigated by troopers.
SEPTA “Smart Cards”
Septa has submitted a federal grant application seeking $29.3 million in funding for a program that would begin to modernize the authority’s antiquated fare collection system.
Under the proposal, SEPTA would use the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER II program, along with $48 million in SEPTA funding, to begin building what is commonly referred to as the “Smart Card” system. The system would involve using bank credit and debit cards, prepaid SEPTA cards and other “smart” technologies.
Traffic Delays
Chester Pike (U.S. Route 13) – Ridley Township, bridge construction with lane closure between Morton Avenue and Acres Drive, 24-hour restrictions through October 2011.
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through October. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.
“I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain…” goes an old James Taylor song. And to that, this retiring reporter-columnist can add I’ve seen my share of flood disasters, infernos and blizzards over the years as a reporter. You think last winter was bad, how about the Blizzard of ’96?
It seems I somehow always landed on some highway or roadblocked street during nearly four decades of chasing all kinds of news including crime, explosions, politics and train wrecks.
I’ll never forget the sunny June morning in 1987 when two robbers being pursued went the wrong way on I-95 in Lower Chichester and crashed head-on into a Delaware state trooper who was critically injured. The two female suspects, who later tested positive for cocaine in their systems, and a toddler were killed in the horrific crash.
Climbing up a steep embankment off a side road to reach the accident scene, I had to take a deep breath after seeing all the carnage.
I’ll never forget the Saturday morning around one Memorial Day weekend when an oil tanker erupted in flames after a collision on I-95 in Chester, taking its toll on drivers and severely buckling the hig-hway. The late veteran state Senator Clarence D. Bell of Upland was already on the highway, in jeans and rubber boots, monitoring the wreckage.
As a result of the serious damage to the highway and infrastructure, PennDOT had to reroute traffic partially on the opposite side of the interstate. Complain all you want about PennDOT not getting around to fix a particular pothole after a winter thaw, but the state agency came through ahead of time in repairing the highway in about a month that summer.
On a more positive note, while on another highway, I was there for the grand opening of the Blue Route (I-476) on Dec. 19, 1991 – which will have its 20th anniversary next year. I endured the frigid temperatures that were made worse by a wind tunnel effect underneath the Lawrence Road overpass as then Governor Robert Casey and Sen. Bell cut the ribbon.
It was truly a milestone in road construction for a much needed north-south expressway in the county connecting I-95 with the turnpike following a lengthy controversial struggle that spanned several decades. Unfortunately, it became nearly obsolete by the time it was completed, no thanks to opposition pressure groups that succeeded in having the highway funneled from six lanes to four lanes below West Chester Pike (Route 3).
I also lost count of how many times I stood in water and foul-smelling mud reporting on the aftermath of floods in Chester, Darby Borough, Chester Township and Upper Darby that clogged local streets and devastated homes and businesses, and a YMCA in Chester.
I guess you could say being on the road just comes with the territory being a reporter.
Thanks for reading Road Watch and Road Rant. Please watch traffic conditions and not your handheld cell phone while driving under the influence of conversation.
Pet Peeves
Here are some pet peeves I want to get off my chest with this farewell column.
BULLET Why don’t motorists turn on their headlights when they use their windshield wipers in the rain? It’s state law.
BULLET Why doesn’t PennDOT paint new left-turn arrows in the two left lanes of West Chester Pike (Route 3) westbound before Lawrence Road? Can’t tell you how many drivers get stuck in the turn lane and pull out dangerously in front of motorists in the proper lane going straight.
BULLET Why don’t any cops enforce the law against covering your license plate with plastic which is often faded yellow or makes it hard to read the plate in the sun’s glare?
BULLET Why are there so many vehicles with extremely dark tinted windows on the driver’s side and front passenger windows? Makes it hard for anyone – including police – to identify a reckless driver or miscreant.
BULLET Why don’t concrete and other contractors clean off their truck license plates covered with concrete or mud, making it hard to identify them in the event of a traffic infraction?
BULLET Why aren’t there more left-turn, green arrow signals at busy, bad intersections like Route 320 South at Route 3, and at Baltimore Pike and Oak Lane and other busy corners, but yet they are installed at less busy intersections?
BULLET Why are drivers exiting the Blue Route North at Exit 9 at West Chester Pike allowed to make right turns on red with eastbound pike traffic barreling down an incline?
BULLET Those “Beware of Aggressive Drivers” signs on highways instead should say “Aggressive Drivers, Beware” (of the law).
BULLET Although it’s not wintertime yet, I can’t believe how many lazy motorists never clean off their snow-bound roofs, hoods and rear windows and trunks before hitting the road. Who wants their windshield to get hit by flying snow and ice from the driver in front of them?
BULLET Now that autumn is approaching, don’t forget that fallen leaves on the road can be dangerously slippery when you brake.
Ben Franklin Bridge Lighting
For most of September, the Ben Franklin Bridge will be arrayed in blue and green lighting to support Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
“The Delaware River Port Authority is joining with the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation and the Southern New Jersey Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition to remind people of the importance of regular medical checkups,” said DRPA CEO John J. Matheussen.
Labor Day Toll
During the four-day Labor Day holiday driving period, nine people died and 271 others were injured in 754 crashes investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Eight of those killed were not wearing seat belts, said Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski. He noted that 83 of the crashes were alcohol-related, including two of the fatal crashes.
Troopers arrested 374 persons for driving under the influence, issued 8,105 speeding citations, cited 679 for failing to wear seat belts, and issued 66 citations for not securing children in safety seats.
In the previous Labor Day holiday period in 2009, nine people also were killed and 285 others were injured in 654 crashes investigated by troopers.
SEPTA “Smart Cards”
Septa has submitted a federal grant application seeking $29.3 million in funding for a program that would begin to modernize the authority’s antiquated fare collection system.
Under the proposal, SEPTA would use the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER II program, along with $48 million in SEPTA funding, to begin building what is commonly referred to as the “Smart Card” system. The system would involve using bank credit and debit cards, prepaid SEPTA cards and other “smart” technologies.
Traffic Delays
Chester Pike (U.S. Route 13) – Ridley Township, bridge construction with lane closure between Morton Avenue and Acres Drive, 24-hour restrictions through October 2011.
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through October. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.
posted by John Roman at
2:50 PM
0 Comments
