Mintercreek Blog - 20060731

Mintercreek Pseudo-Blog
- Started June 2006 -

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A pseudo-blog of information about some events of interest around the Mintercreek area. This is an experiment for sure. [back to top]

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Installing New Guard Rails on Highway 302

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June 3, 2006
Toll Collection

June 24, 2006
07 Property Tax

July 25, 2006
Installing New Guard Rails on Highway 302

July 25, 2006 - Installing New Guard Rails on Highway 302

Road Maintenance IE. Installing New Guard Rails on Highway 302 - Watching our Taxes at work is often a frustrating thing for people. Although, we like to see that our tax monies are being spent on something that is useful to us, it is most often inconvienent for us when it happens. So it was a few days past. A quick set of information about the road is provided for those not familiar with the area. Highway 302 is noteworthy for being a typical 2 lane rural highway in western Washington. It starts in Purdy, at Highway 16 at a stop light just east of the Wauna Spit (or the Purdy Spit) bridge. The road heads west across a non-descript, narrow 2 lane bridge made of concrete and wood. Who would guess that this bridge is on the register of historical bridges, and is the only one of this design in the NW, and I have heard "west of the Mississippi". So much for ever upgrading this bridge to handle more traffic. The road then travels across the spit ( more of a causeway ) to a set of narrow curves up the side of a wooded ridge of land. Just as you exit the Spit and start up the hillside, is the community of Wauna, where the early days Post Office sat on part of the wharf sticking out into Henderson Bay. Travel up the windy road called the Wauna Curves for about 3.5 miles and you pass near the new Wauna Post Office at the peak of the ridge. Traveling West for another mile the road drops down a hill and around a blind curve to the south and follows along the west edge of Minter Creek. It is at this point where there is a fairly steep drop off protected by a guard rail. This guard rail is the typical steel barrier bolted to 12" X 12" wooden posts set in the ground next to the pavement. Problem: the edge of the road is very close to the steep hillside covered with large pines and brush. This guard rail has been the target of various vehicles attempting to careen as close to the edge as is possible. The reasons are many, tired drivers, oncoming traffic, bright lights not being dimmed, and other distractions. Add to that, a few left turn opportunities onto private driveways along this stretch of road with no place to put a center turn lane. The result is a guard rail that takes a few licks and keeps on guarding to the best of its ability. Finally, this road project moves up in the maintenance schedule to receive some repairs. Ahh, you see now comes the tension. This is a two day project involving stabilizing the dirt at the edge of the road, putting in all new posts, and attaching the bright shiny new guard rails. Work on both days is scheduled from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. There is only one convienent potential detour around this road construction where you travel up a side road that is somewhat parallel to the highway. This side road is full of neighborhood cross streets that have reached the project schedule to have the asphalt sealed. All of the work equipment is staged along side the main alternate route with flaggers to control the movement of neighborhood traffic and work equipment. Now you see the frustration potential. If you stay on the highway, it is closed down to one lane and controlled by flaggers. This means delays in the morning while attempting to get to work. But no problem, those in the know will use the alternate path, only to find out the neighbors cars, work equipment are all parked alongside the alternate route and every intersection is controlled by flaggers. Shucks, foiled again. There you have it. I appreciate the repairs and watching my taxes at work, I really do. However it messes with my normal routine creating a sense of frustration. Why today? Why here? Why both events? and on the questions go. But today it is all fixed. The new guard rail is guarding and the new sealant is looking very black. And at least for now all is well. And, if it makes any difference, please don't bump the guard rail. It looks so nice without any dents and scratches.
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