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State Plans Safety Improvements to Seward HighwayMore turnouts, law enforcement, cell phone coverageGIRDWOOD - According to the state, the number of fatal vehicle crashes on Alaskan roads is at an all time low. But one road remains particularly dangerous: The Seward Highway between Anchorage and Girdwood has a dangerous history, including two fatal crashes already this year Some say the fault is with the drivers. Jim Jolin has driven the road for 40 years. “People are passing in the snow storm and I’m thinking the speed on that is 65 but the weather conditions are about 55, “said Jolin. “I don’t know if improving the road any more is going to help people realize that they need to learn how to drive safely.” State officials have a plan to help drivers make it down the road in a safer manner. Governor Parnell announced a laundry list Thursday. “There are plans for more turnouts, better road alignments, more law enforcement, more cell phone coverage and better travel advisory information,” said Parnell. A number of the safety features are in the works for this summer, like straightening one of the deadliest curves on the highway, mile 88, where a DOT worker recently lost his life. Other improvements involve technology to keep drivers up to speed with road conditions. “We will be using cameras, weather sensors, signs and other technical data to help the drivers,” said DOT Commissioner Pat Kemp. But the DOT says the safest plan of all is still the furthest from reality. That’s a four-lane divided highway. It’s also the most expensive with an estimated cost of $750 million. The DOT says that is the eventual goal, but it is still a long way away. |
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this alaskan said on Tuesday, Feb 19 at 11:50 AM
There is more fatalities since the increase of the speed limit. Also so many cars made for speed. Maybe we should all become mushers...
113958031Kodiakgirl said on Saturday, Feb 16 at 7:23 PM
Add reflectors and paint the edges and middle lanes. I know we cannot have the road reflectors like they have where the graders won't rip them off, but it is scary dark out there. I can see why there are head-on collisions because drivers cannot see where they are going, especially in bad weather.
113704291Frumious said on Friday, Feb 15 at 10:54 PM
Better cell phone coverage along the Seward Highway is a bad idea. As it is now, because the coverage is on and off along this windy road drivers don't use their cell phones. Improve the coverage and some drivers will be chatting and texting as they drive the winding, windy, often icy road. Bad idea. A good idea is more frequent pull-outs and signs encouraging slow drivers to use them. Frequently there are 45mph drivers on sunny, dry road days who frustrate lines of cars behind them. They should be ticketed just as severely as the fast drivers.
113642136cheap said on Thursday, Feb 14 at 7:22 PM
add 8 inch speed bumps every 1/4 mile. the idiots that speed and drive like jerks won't learn. until the fine is close to $2000 per mile over and 12 points, we are all risking our lives over a few inconsiderate drivers.
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