I-84 has been in the news a lot recently. Ground breaking for a new interchange,a transportation task force and temporary closures. Until the last week I had only a few hard feelings about that necessary artery between Nampa and Boise.
Driving the freeway between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning during the school year has been quick and uneventful. Sure there were those few commutes in the winter that took me nearly 90 minutes to get to work, but what the heck, it was winter and everyone was driving reasonably. And coming home at night between 5:30 and 6:30 is often like joining a parade, but for the most part the stop and go traffic allowed me the opportunity to decompress from work, play music louder than normal, listen to the news and yes; this is a confession, talk on the cellphone.
Over the last week, my feelings have changed. First, there was the two nights I was coming home from Ada county after late night meetings. I expected no traffic and a very easy drive,after all it was 10:30 at night. But no, that did not happen. Instead the traffic was slow and go, stop and go as drivers were distracted by the huge trucks and equipment with enough flashing lights to be on The Strip in Las Vegas as construction crews working feverishly.
Next there was the two mornings I needed to be in Meridian at 9:00. Both mornings I was treated to a twenty minute wait as fender benders were cleared from the Garrity on ramp. Much of that wait time I debated, "Should I get off and take a secondary road?" or not. If I do, which one? The four way stop on Franklin at the Cheese factory was backed up nearly to Walmart. The secondary roads on the south side of the freeway have detours and construction that are unpredictable. So I waited on the freeway, contributing to the poor air quality with all the other drivers.
Traveling at a snail's pace allows you a glimpse into the lives of other commuters. I've seen a young woman perform a complete make over; hair, eye make up, lipstick, blusher, change of ear rings all while texting someone.I saw a man change his shirt,(thank goodness he had on a t-shirt) and tye a tie. Two teens opened their sunroof and took turns poking their heads up. A number of vehicles vibrated from their mega sound systems. And then there was the array of breakfast foods being eaten in between gulps of coffee. The last and truly amazing thing I saw was a man reading a magazine propped up on his steering wheel.
Such are the adventures of a commuter...
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