QuickMap webpage provides real-time highway information
QMany people (thousands?) spent three-plus hours last Wednesday night inching along for miles on Interstate 80 trying to reach Lake Tahoe. Was it a major accident? Chain control?
Was the road closed?
The lack of information was surprising. No signs. No Twitter. No AM radio. Just desperate pleas for information on Waze chat. Seemingly the only cause of this huge delay was two men doing the chain control check, stopping every car and answering driver questions. Surely the CHP and Caltrans can develop a better system to keep traffic flowing. We thought we’d be trapped spending the snowy night in our cars.
AThis was a horrible time to be heading to Lake Tahoe. Late on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in heavy snow. But seeking information shouldn’t be torture. Next time call 800427-7623 or use QuickMap online at www.dot.ca.gov for road information. Caltrans social media pages on Facebook and Twitter are not 24/7, and are not reviewed until the next business day.
QDo you think they’ll ever convert the carpool lane on Highway 4 to an express lane?
ANot sure. It’s not on the priority list now. Through 2035, here are the freeways that will get express lanes:
• I-880 between 237 and Oakland.
• Extending 237 express lanes to 101.
• 101 through Santa Clara and San Mateo counties — eventually from San Benito County line to at least I-380 near SFO.
• Highway 85 from 101 in South San Jose to 101 in Mountain View.
• Completion of I-680 Express Lanes in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties — eventually from 237 to I-80 in Fairfield.
• Highway 84 and Highway 92 approaches to Dumbarton and San Mateo bridges.
• I-80 from the Bay Bridge nearly to Davis.
QCaltrans is putting on the second and presumably final layer of asphalt on westbound Highway 4 to Albany. However, the eastbound repaving appears to have stopped at Hilltop Drive. What’s going on?
AThis work should be completed by summer. Stopping at Hilltop was a logistical issue.
QI am trying to find out about the rules in regard to parking next to the red curb.
I have to park my car on the street and lately can’t find a designated space to park so I park half of my car next to the red curb. I have been told that since my car has two axles and since only one is next to the red curb, it is legal. But then a tow company told me that as long as I cross the red curb in any way, it is illegal. Who is right?
AThe tow folks are right. It’s illegal to park any part of your car on a red curb. Join Gary Richards for an hourlong chat at noon today at www. mercurynews.com/ live-chats. Contact him at mrroadshow@ bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-920-5037.