Payson Roundup

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1. 27 June 2009 at 2:58 p.m.

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   Tom_Garrett (Tom Garrett) says…

   For 26 years I've been listening to complaints about the stretch of Highway 87 between Pine and Payson.

   Starting soon, work will begin on a mile long section just south of Pine, and a mile long section just north of Payson.

   I don't know about the section just north of Payson, but as someone who lives in Pine I can tell you that I have seen more accidents, including fatal accidents, in the mile long section just south of Pine than I have seen anywhere else in my life.

   Traveling north and turning east onto Bradshaw from 87 is taking your life in your hands. You can turn on your turn signals a quarter mile early but the nuts behind you will hang right on your tail all the way until you pause to turn. And if someone is coming south out of Pine and you have to sit in the roadway for a minute or so before you can turn, you cringe, waiting for that rear end collision you've known was coming for years.

   We have needed a left turn lane there forever. I remember Cliff Potts working on that on the roads committee ten years ago. Now, I suppose, we'll get one at last. And we'll get some other work done in that stretch so that I won't have to look at the leftovers from another accident every couple of months.

   But when people have to wait a few minutes because of the road work will they smile and wave at the workers for a change?

   Man, I hope so!

   I know I will, but why do I have a sinking feeling I may the only one?

2. 27 June 2009 at 4:09 p.m.

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   fred_franz (frederick franz) says…

   OK Tom,
   Would you opt for a traffic light as well as a left turn lane at Bradshaw and 87?
   I've been through Pine only a few times and never noticed a problem. But then I never have stopped to turn on Bradshaw.
   -Fred

3. 29 June 2009 at 12:31 p.m.

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   Tom_Garrett (Tom Garrett) says…

   No, Fred, I don't think there's a need for a light there. It's a t-intersection and the plan is to put in a left turn lane, which seems to be that's all that's needed. You know, some way to get out of the busy traffic lane and let people travel on without stopping behind you when you want to turn in on Bradshaw.

   I'm only making a rough guestimate, but from what I see as I drove home from Payson, I would guess that about one in five, to one in ten, cars which are headed for Pine as a destination turn off at Bradshaw, which leads to the two large developments up on the hill. That creates a genuine need for a safe way for them to make the turn.

   A left turn lane has been in the works for a long time, but money for road work is always tight. Now at last we're going to get one.

   It's a good thing.

   I'm going to town (Payson) today, and I will probably run into a traffic control and spend some time waiting, but I plan to smile and wave. I just think it's the right thing to do, don't you?

4. 29 June 2009 at 3:48 p.m.

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   fred_franz (frederick franz) says…

   Thanks for the reply Tom. Smile and wave….perhaps you'll start a trend! I'll keep that in mind when I run into a traffic snarl!
   -Fred

5. 30 June 2009 at 11:58 a.m.

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   Tom_Garrett (Tom Garrett) says…

   About that, Fred, I don't know if it was only my imagination or if it was real, but way back in 1957 when I was stationed near Wichita Falls, Texas, some bumper stickers showed up that seemed to make a difference in how people drove.

   The bumper sticker said courtesy is contagious. That's all. Nothing else. And yet I swear that for the rest of the six or eight months I was there, as the number of those bumper stickers multiplied on people's cars, it certainly seemed that they made a difference.

   Maybe they didn't. Maybe I just enjoyed thinking that they did. But if they did make a difference it might show that most people are driving around looking for a chance to be anything other than angry. That would say something, I think.

   I know this much, whenever I'm stuck trying to get out of—say—KFC and onto the main roadway and someone waves me out I spend a long time feeling good about it, and I return the favor whenever I can.

   Who knows? Maybe humans are redeemable after all. :-)