Trying to get things cleared up to get away for the state volleyball tournament, dealing with a seemingly endless stream of idiotic problems and being just plain fed up with dealing with road construction leaves me in a ranting mood. While I’m nowhere near as good as Scott H., these things are among the irritants striking me during my battle with roadwork over the last day or so. Hey, at least it’s not true road rage.
- First, a quote from a short item from Tuesday’s Argus Leader saying work began Thursday, i.e., Nov. 9, on a construction project on I-29 south of Sioux Falls. “The contractor was awarded the contract on June 20 and was to have the project done by Nov. 3, [a state engineer] said.” My main question is, didn’t the Argus, AP or whomever was responsible for the story think to ask, “Why is this contractor starting a week after the deadline for completing the project and how much is it being fined missing that completion date?”
- Another construction debacle is the never-ending one on West 12th Street near I-29. According to the DOT website, “the Contractor must have all lanes of Interstate 29, Marion Road and 12th St. complete and open to traffic” by Nov. 3. Not even close. Even as of today, there is only one lane each way on both Marion and 12th and you cannot get on to I-29 from 12th Street. And you know how many yards of concrete the contractor laid for the driving lanes on 12th Street from Nov. 4 through Nov. 8, when the temp was in the 50s, 60s and 70s? Exactly zero. When did they start putting concrete down for the driving lanes? This week. Of course, that means they are working in the dark tonight when the temp is below freezing. Anyone wanna lay any bets on how long it will be before the concrete on those stretches of 12th Street are torn up to repair the spalls, cracks and craters?
- I recognize various Sioux Falls law firms have conflicts that preclude their involvement but was it really necessary for this gentleman to go to Rapid City to find a lawyer to challenge the red-light cameras in Sioux Falls? By the way, I saw at least two motorists get their pictures taken by the cameras when I was at the intersection on my way home tonight.
- That leads to another continual irritant with traffic lights. Twelfth Street is complete between Minnesota and a couple blocks east of I-29. Why is it that the traffic lights are set so you have to stop for between half and three-quarters of them if you drive at or under the speed limit?
So endeth rants. I do feel better. Like having opened my window and yelled.
I want you to go to the window, open it, and stick your head out and yell. I want you to yell, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this any more!”
Paddy Chayefsky, Network
