Minnesota Department of Transportation has recently pleaded with metro area commuters and businesses to bear with upcoming road construction on the seemingly needy 35-W.
After I was stuck in stand-still traffic at 8:30 p.m., I find it hard to believe that “normal” rush hour times will not be unbearable as the regularly traveled four lanes of 35W will be cut down to three lanes. However, a Star Tribune reporter claimed otherwise in a Monday morning report of a “non-impeded” morning rush hour.
MNDOT claims the repairs of the effected highway will only last six months and will lead to a “greatly enhanced commute.” In efforts to repair the stretch of 35-W from Bloomington through the north end of the metro, MNDOT has worked on sections of the highway in intervals so as to inconvenience commuters as little as possible.
I am in full support of bettering the Minnesota roadways. I have even met the commissioner for MNDOT at a political event two summers ago after the collapse of the 35-W bridge. I understand that there is no way around the repairs other than to create traffic obstacles that will ultimately make driving less convenient. But I hope that the construction lasts the six months MNDOT promised and doesn’t spill into the fall and winter months as most construction projects seem to have a tendency to. A recent Star Tribune article suggested alternate means of transportation for usual auto commuters such as car pools and public busses. I think car-pooling is a great idea and a relatively logical attempt to lessen rush hour and construction congested traffic. I view the public bus as an extremely under-utilized mode of transportation and I blame part of it on the inefficiency of the public bus routes around the metro area, but mostly I blame lazy and inflexible commuters for their lack of interest in varying forms of travel.
After living and commuting without a car in Washington, D.C. for five months, I may be a bit biased to the public transportation system. However I also believe it could be a possible cure-all for hasty rush hour traffic and deteriorating road conditions. Less commuters means less wear and tear on the pavement.
Besides car-pools and city busses, the article also mentioned alternating commute times and talking to employers about possible telecommuting options. Don’t get me wrong; I understand that MNDOT is trying to suggest ways to cope with the upcoming increased congestion on one of the metro’s busiest highways, but changing work hours or working from home may not be feasible for many employees.
For the lucky few, those options may be attainable, but for the rest of us nine-to-fivers, we will most likely be fighting the five o’clock commute along with everyone else.
If you would like more information about contributing to the efforts of cutting back on traffic, check the links below for Metro area public transportation options.
Public Bus Routes and Schedules‘
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