Expect an even smoother ride on Highway 17 after this job

QI commute Highway 17 a few days a week from Santa Cruz and wondered about something:

They’ve been repaving much of it, mostly the Santa Cruz County side, and for a while there, it was so smooth and beautiful that I’d comment on it to anyone riding with me. Both lanes, both sides seemed to be new and so nice to drive.

But now they are grinding down all the work they did! Now it’s back to uneven pavement signs and rough driving. Did they mess up somehow and now have to start over? Or am I missing something?

Have you gotten questions about this already?

— Jeff T., Santa Cruz

AOh my, yes. But Colin-the-Caltrans-Man says there is no need to panic:

“Caltrans is doing what we call extra smoothness grinding along the new Highway 17 pavement then will be adding a final layer of hot mix asphalt for better surface traction and rideability. This project should be complete

by end of the year, all part of our statewide upgrades from gastax funding.”

QI am a dad and a Lyft driver and am hoping you can answer a question that a lot of us with teenagers have.

Lyft tells us that as Lyft drivers we can’t pick up anyone under 18 who isn’t with a guardian, but it isn’t always obvious who is over or under 18, and sometimes people lie about their age.

If the Lyft driver transporting my underage daughter gets in an accident, does Lyft’s insurance pay for medical? Is the Lyft driver also liable? What liability do I as a parent have for having my underage daughter take Lyft rides?

— Gary Rodster

ADrivers should ask for the ages of young passengers. But they must be 18 or older or have an adult 18 or older riding with them. In the case of a crash, the driver could be liable.

QDriving down Saratoga Avenue from Westgate and going

south to Highway 85, there are two left-turn entrances under 85, but before the underpass there is only one. Clearly, the far left lane goes to 85, but what about the second lane that is marked to go straight, farther down Saratoga or left turns onto 85? There should be signs so that I don’t get beeped at. — Robert Borawski

AThere are three lanes at the signalized intersection just before you enter the undercrossing of 85. The No. 1 lane farthest to the left is designated for south 85 and the roadway does have it marked with pavement markers. At the undercrossing, the road transitions to two left-turn pocket and two through lanes.

Vehicles can merge from the No. 2 lane to the designated two leftturn pockets at the undercrossing area.