Round out LR corner, driver says
Dear Mahatma: I drove through the recently completed roundabout at Rebsamen Park Road and Riverfront Drive. Very nice! Why won’t the city put one at the intersection of Kavanaugh, Pine Valley and North McKinley Street? It’s one of the worst intersections in town.
— Sent from iPhone Dear iPhone: Hope you didn’t send while driving. But we digress.
Ronny Loe, Little Rock’s assistant director of public works, agrees that traffic circles have advantages. They save money in the long run and offer less traffic delay when effectively designed.
He adds that city staff members have been asked to examine this intersection — he calls it “unique.” One of the improvement options to be considered is a traffic circle. Whatever plan emerges will depend on traffic volume, roadway geometry, and the space available for modifications.
Also: “Any major changes in the intersection would require infrastructure funds to be identified and programmed in order to move forward to construction.”
Translation: Got to find the dough.
Dear Mahatma: Wondering when the section of Interstate 30 between U.S. 70 and Benton might be repaved? Both westand eastbound sections are terrible. At least fix the huge potholes. I tried to find a site to report potholes to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department but to no avail.
— All Shook Up Dear Shook: We posed this to the Highway Department, and got a three-part answer from spokesman Glenn Bolick.
Part I: Bids for an overlay of this section of I-30 were opened in April. Contractors should be on the job within weeks.
Part II: Call the Highway Department at (501) 569-2000. Fax to (501) 569-2400. Mail to P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, 72203. Send e-mail to info@arkansashighways.com.
Part III: The section of I-30 between Sevier Street in Benton and U.S. 70 will be widened to six lanes if voters pass a proposed sales tax for highway construction in the November general election.
Dear Mahatma: What is the name of the app you mentioned at the end of your column last week?
— Shari Dear Shari: It’s called AT&T DriveMode.
A fact sheet from AT&T says that texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. “At 55, that’s like driving the length of a football field.”
Can such inattention be good? Surely not.
DriveMode, when enabled, sends a reply to incoming texts telling the sender the driver is, well, driving. AT&T invites its customers to download the app for free at att.com/ drivemode.