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Snowfall Makes Glenn Highway Especially DangerousCommuters face extra challenges driving into and out of AnchorageANCHORAGE - For most of us, the drive home from work normally doesn’t take very long in Anchorage, but if you live outside of city limits you might have a lot more time in the car. Hundreds of Alaskans make the drive on the Glenn Highway twice a day, every day. But they all agree it becomes more difficult when the snow starts to fall. For the most part, they said they’ve had it good this year. A late snowfall meant a safer drive between Anchorage and Eagle River. “Oh, it wasn’t bad today,” said Ryan McMurry. “It’s the same ol’, same ol’ whenever we get big snow. People act like they’ve never seen it before.” Wednesday, his drive was a little slower than normal. He said he drove 15 miles per hour the entire way home. “It was steady,” said Daniel Witsen. “It didn’t stop, but it was very slow and rutty. It was hard to change lanes and you didn’t want to.” But most people who do that daily drive are used to it. “It’s not bad,” said Robert McMullen. “I mean I have lived in a lot of places and it gets pretty bad in other places too. Roads aren’t too slick and I like it here, so I can live with the commute.” But some Eagle River residents said there are things that could be done to make the drive a little easier this time of year. “I think they should take better care of our roads,” said Shirly Pegues, who works in Anchorage. “Put some salt out, grate, and do whatever needs to be done.” On Wednesday though, they were all just happy to make it home and rest before getting in their cars again in the morning and tackling the Glenn Highway again. |
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Robert McMullen said on Thursday, Dec 13 at 9:56 AM
What I meant to say was, that it was not to bad YESTERDAY compared to some other days that stand out in my memory. My wife and I sort of keep score. The record worst day is 23 ditch divers or wrecks between Muldoon Rd and the Hiland Exit in Eagle River. This was last year. It tied with an earlier record, but what made last year a winner was that two of the cars were on fire... Now that was a bad day...
109128626mark oathout said on Thursday, Dec 13 at 10:44 AM
The interstate should never have snow on it per say. Keep it well plowed, always, the plow trucks should should be out in force, that road is very dangerous otherwise. There is no excuse for a snow covered, rutted, interstate, which is only less than 50 miles long. Better management is where I would start.
109132426coldinwinter said on Thursday, Dec 13 at 11:31 AM
The worst part of the comute from the valley is when you get near Eagle River. All the traffic comes to a stop mostly due to ER drivers cutting over into the through lane and causeing everyone to hit the brakes. The biggest problem are the drivers who think they are in a NASCAR race, back off and leave plenty of follwoing room.
109136076Gini Beck said on Thursday, Dec 13 at 11:41 AM
Salt on the road might be a bad idea. I can just imagine stationary moose all over the roadways licking it up. I thought the drive to and from Anchorage yesterday was pretty good. I've seen it a lot worse. It would be nice if the highway got plowed more though. Sometimes it seems like there is only one lane.
109136826Donn Griffith said on Thursday, Dec 13 at 11:50 AM
We would not have to adjust our driving if we had another road in from the valley. There is plenty enough blame to go around for bad driving habits from both places. I would appreciate it if you did your research first.
109137366Berberking said on Thursday, Dec 13 at 11:58 AM
I think the general public should be mad as all heck with the way we are forced to put our lives at risk just driving to work. I and just like many other people in this state pay a lot in property taxes,auto registration, and recieve nothing in services for what we pay. There is no excuse for road conditions to be like this. We know when these snow events are going to happen, so why are the road crews out there taking care of it? We know what time rush hours are so why are they not out there clearing the road knowing this info? Instead there out there after 20 some vehicles are in the ditch and are hazards to other drivers. I drive the Glenn nearly every day and it's always the same story when it snows. How hard is it to get these road crews out of bed and do there job before the rush hours? People maybe need to start complaining to there insurance companies and maybe then the insurance companies can put the pressure on the road crews to do there job!
109137916Trapperlake said on Thursday, Dec 13 at 4:09 PM
Thought the state would have plowing figured out by now. Plow the incoming Glenn before 6am for incoming traffic. Plow miday for out bound traffic. It must be me?
109155451cooljulie said on Saturday, Dec 15 at 3:00 PM
I have driven the interstates in northern NY, VT, NH, ME and much of Canada for many years. Short of an outright blizzard (Wednesday was a very basic snowfall- no blizzard) I have never experienced such poor road maintainence as here on the Glenn. I find it incomprehensible that there is but ONE ROAD between Anchorage and the Valley, and they cannot manage to plow it properly or in a timely fashion. I don't think it's a budget issue, I think it's a management issue. It would only take TWO TRUCKS to keep both north and southbound lanes plowed once an hour.
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