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What Can Make the Seward Highway Safer?Weekend crash raises perennial questionRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - A head-on crash on the Seward Highway just north of Girdwood Sunday sent almost a dozen people to the hospital, including several children. The injuries were serious but fortunately not fatal. Even so, it's raising a question some have asked for years: What can be done to make the Seward Highway safer to drive? “It’s a miracle it wasn’t that serious, but it’s pretty dangerous,” said Miskiuki Taulai. It happened at a blind curve just south of Girdwood that DOT officials said will be one of the first places to receive safety improvements next spring. But one thing is known already: The cost will be high, at least $750 million, and the funding for that is still a big question mark. The number of fatal accidents on the highway has gone down in recent years but everyone agrees there's a long way to go. Troopers say one thing that has made a big difference is the REDDI system, where people can call 911 to report dangerous drivers. |
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TedtheBear said on Saturday, Dec 15 at 8:28 PM
If you can fix the drivers, then any road is safe. Winter driving requires the utmost care, attention and skill. There is very little room for error. Its not the road. (Almost sound like gun control debate: Its not the gun, it the handler!)
109314576Anonymous said on Wednesday, Dec 12 at 11:02 PM
Jersey barrier or some modification thereof to impede head-ons in the most problematic stretches along with the additional lighting previously mentioned; increased rail service to Girdwood at affordable prices
109093145Anne said on Wednesday, Dec 12 at 10:04 AM
What about all the funds for the bridge? I vote we use that money on a highway that will benefit ALL OF US.
109033282fine said on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 8:17 PM
$5000.00 per mile over limit, 14 points on you record.
108976642C reyes said on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 4:42 AM
I say more Officers, Straight 4 lanes have road checks to make sure drivers have traction for driving in these conditions,and cameras to catch those who are going to fast I have seen fast drivers on this Highway can be very scary when someone is barreling behind you when you are in a smaller vehicle on a 2 lane Highway.
108888282Susan said on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 2:18 AM
I would think the first and foremost is a 45 MPH speed limit, lighting all along the highway in winter time, widening this road from a 2 lane to a 4 lane road all the way to Portage, and about 8 more State troopers and video surveillance camera's, and Fines, with repercussions, i.e. you get one ticket, you cannot be on the road again for 5 years as the driver of a vehicle. I live right off of Knik Goose Bay Road, referred to as the most dangerous road in the State, we need at least 5 more traffic lights than we now have, it wouldn't hurt to have them on the Seward Highway either.
108881845Leon said on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 12:17 AM
I think most agree it's not the road, it's the drivers. Roads don't cause accidents, they just provide a place for it to happen. I was headed from Peter's Creek into Anchorage Saturday night and it was close to whiteout conditions in several places, mostly due to high speed trucks and SUVs passing and kicking up a lot of snow. I was driving 60 and passed only 3 cars, all the rest passed me. Visibility was maybe 200 feet at best, 20 feet at worst, and I have a new awd Subaru with studs so it's not the car! Don't know what the answer is to make better drivers out of people. But Seward highway is perfectly safe other than rocks tumbling down.
108877975Chuck said on Monday, Dec 10 at 10:37 PM
1st, get off the (d)amn cell phone. Shut up and pay attention to the road. Drive according to road conditions and your ability. A vehicle with outstanding performance does not make you an outstanding driver. A straighter, less scenic, divided 4 lane hwy is probably the only thing that will help. Keep the drivers apart and dont give them anything to be looking at except the road (and the text messages they are sending and recieving). But with any luck the only person geting hurt would be the person driving and texting. Hopfully they are texing for the Ambulance they are about to need.
108874482John said on Monday, Dec 10 at 10:06 PM
Some people cant handle 35mph in the winter and their cars dont have the right tires for winter driving. They should not be on the road. Also they are not courteous enough to pull over for other drivers who can handle winter driving keeping everybody bunched together increasing the chance of a accident. P.S. I hope my spelling is better than the previous post.
108873215Anonymous said on Monday, Dec 10 at 9:24 PM
Slow down, pay attention to the road, & STAY OFF the CEll phones while driving.
108871475annymous said on Monday, Dec 10 at 8:55 PM
light up the highways with lights it helps alot... you would be suprised....
108870135jkk said on Monday, Dec 10 at 8:53 PM
yes!!solar lighting, and double fine saftey speed zones And hazardous winter reduced speed limit sighns and Warning black ice for air heads that insist on going 55 even on ice and try and force other drivers to speed up.. Also BIG TICKETS for tailgaters;and aggresive drivers they cause wrecks
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