Posted on 10/27/2016 5:06:04 AM PDT by Kaslin
California State Route 99 is the north-south highway that cuts through the great Central Valley. And it has changed little since the mid-1960s.
A half-century ago, when the state population was about 18 million -- not nearly 40 million as it is today -- the 99 used to be a high-speed, four-lane marvel. It was a crown jewel in California's cutting-edge freeway system.
Not now.
The 99 was recently ranked by ValuePenguin (a private consumer research organization) as the deadliest major highway in the nation. Locals who live along its 400-plus miles often go to bed after seeing lurid TV news reports of nocturnal multi-car accidents. Then they wake up to Central Valley radio accounts of morning carnage on the 99.
The 99 is undergoing a $1 billion, multi-decade upgrade to increase its four lanes to six. Promises have been made to build off- and on-ramps in place of haphazard exits and entries from the old days of cross traffic.
In many of the most dangerous southern portions of the 99, huge semi trucks hog two lanes. Speeders weave in and out of traffic. They still try to drive 70 mph in the manner you could 50 years ago when traffic was less clogged. Text-messaging drivers are now even more dangerous than the intoxicated.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
Self ping.
15 years ago I used to drive 395 through the Owens Valley once a week. Now that was a meat grinder.
California would have plenty of money to upgrade and repair roads if they did not steal the money for their politicians pet projects.
I recall reading many years ago about Transportation money being used to create a “gay” museum. Its tie to transportation? It was housed in a long abandoned RR train station.
Unfortunately, most (if not all) states do the same thing. They just don’t steal as much as California does.
99 was 3 lanes between Fresno and Madera in the late 40s early 50 when I lived there. They called it Blood Alley...
No worries high speed rail will save Cali! /sarc
ff
He will implement the "stupid people tax" by defunding sanctuary cities and states.
Sorry, but that's way too fast.
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