Whether you’re a trucker or a resident, the Washington Street corner off North Main Street in Lamar is a road hazard and a wreck waiting to happen. Living just west of there often means turning that corner, and attempting to avoid on-coming truckers. This crossroad of connection has long needed a change for economic growth and development and hasn’t yet seen a beneficial change.
Even a Mom in a Mini-van realizes that a Semi-Truck and Trailer is BIGGER.
But, EVEN a Mom in a Mini-van can find a solution that doesn’t require either relocating the truck stop or vacating the corner in lieu of trucker favors. Understanding that the Department of Transportation and Lamar City Council & Designer probably has final say (they’re most likely men who won’t listen), this mom is suggesting these changes STRONGLY.
Yes, I realize they’ll cost a bit of cash to apply, but they’ll save money, lives, frustration and time once they’re applied. Not to mention the obvious savings of police officer time for writing tickets. And best of all — NO NEW TRAFFIC LIGHTS needed!
- REMOVE the median from Washington to Gottlob Auwaerter Drive down the middle of Main Street. Replace it with painted yellow lines (JUST THAT STRIP) the rest of the median can and should remain in place – it’s not only attractive and quaint, but helps vehicles remain on their own side of the street.
- ARC the corners turning west from Main onto Washington and east from Washington onto Main Street. (Yes, I know Mayor Roger will object to the east ARC, but he’ll survive and ultimately appreciate the wear and tear on cubing.) The ARC of the corner will give trucks an easier and safer access to the turn in and vehicles turning on that same corner will be safer, because trucks won’t be turning into oncoming traffic lanes.
- REMOVE the curbing along the front of Love’s Truck Stops, so trucks have the option of turning into the Truck Stop all the way along the front of the site, rather than just at the corner.
- FLATTEN out the front entry transition from parking lot to highway, so the dip no longer exists, allowing trucks an easier transition, so they’re not bucking the curb and gutter issue as they enter the parking lot.
- MARK the Lamar Canal and bridge better so truckers are aware there’s a canal there, and perhaps place a guard on the south side of the canal, protecting the edge of the canal a bit from cave offs, due to driving too close to the edge. During the daytime this probably isn’t a problem, but I’ve noticed at night, truckers park extremely close to the edge of the canal (which is NOT a parking spot anyways).
These insights are most likely due to use-logic and may not be visible to those who don’t use and access that corner. They would make the corner so much safer and the residents in that end of town would most likely appreciate the changes, and the accessibility for the truckers.
Notice, nobody is complaining in this article, simply offering suggested solutions for a problem that has existed for more than 25 years. It’s time to find a solution and apply that solution to this problem.
