Keep police stations in mind — you may need them

QA recent road rage incident described in your column reminded me of a similar experience I had on Interstate 880. I was being followed. I had no idea who they were, but I didn’t want to pull over and I didn’t want to drive to my office.

So I got off at the West Winton Avenue exit and parked in front of the entrance to the Hayward Police Department. The other car followed me, parked behind me and two men got out and started to approach me (I stayed in my vehicle and honked my horn). When a couple of officers came out, the men got back in their car and left.

We have other police agencies located near freeway exits: Oakland police at Broadway off I-880, Alameda County sheriff’s substation at 150th Avenue exit off Interstate 580, Santa Clara County Sheriff off North First Street exit off I-880, California Highway Patrol offices on Whipple in Union City and Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, to name just a few.

What would it take to put a star, shield, badge on freeway exit signs to let everyone know there is a law enforcement office at that exit? That way anyone using the freeway would know. — Michael Spurek

AYou have a great idea here, and this could happen as older signs are replaced. For now, check ahead to know where police stations are located on your familiar routes.

QBecause of construction barriers, the transition from Interstate 680 to Highway 84 is very dangerous. The width of the road between the barriers needs to be increased. It is clear from all the markings on the barriers on each side that many drivers have hit the barriers.

It’s only a matter of time before there may be a serious accident or tremendous traffic jam caused by an accident. I am sure that Caltrans, in all its wisdom, will state the width is fine, but trust me, this needs to be rectified. — Killian Byrne

AIt will be. Caltrans agrees that wider ramps are needed. Highway 84 is under construction as part of the expressway work and the 84/I-680 interchange project. Work is underway to widen and conform 84 to an expressway south of Ruby Hill Drive and the I-680 interchange.

Caltrans will modify the westbound 84 striping to eliminate the lane drop where the ramp splits to northbound and southbound I-680. The new stage will have striping that will let motorists know that the right lane on westbound 84 is for northbound I-680, and the left lane on westbound 84 will be for southbound I-680 or the Paloma offramp.