Temporary lower speed limit imposed north of Golden Gate

QSeems most of the Bay Area has a 65 mph freeway speed limit, so why does Highway 101 in Marin only allow 55 mph from the Golden

Gate Bridge to the Marin Civic Center? And why is the speed reduced on the Golden Gate to 45? I recall speed limits being reduced as a safety precaution to avoid head-on collisions.

— Michael Martin

ASafety and construction. The movable median barrier that separates traffic on the Golden Gate was installed five years ago and is credited with ending an alarming trend of head-on collisions.

There have been no head-on crashes on the span since the barrier was installed in 2015, down from an average of about 2.8 per year. Between 1970 and 2015, there were 128 head-on collisions on the bridge, resulting in 16 deaths and dozens of serious injuries.

The downside to the barrier is that it has emboldened some drivers who apparently feel comfortable driving in excess of the bridge’s 45 mph speed limit.

As for the area north of the bridge on Highway 101, Caltrans this week will begin work from Lynch Creek and Washington Creek bridges, where the highway must be held aloft by cement piles rather than compacted dirt. The piles will support carpool lanes that are being built as part of the Petaluma Widening plan, a series of 13 projects to widen 101 by adding a carpool lane in each direction from Highway 37 in Marin County to Corona Road in Petaluma. Construction means a temporary lower speed limit.

QI thought I saw a sign that said Highway 12 was going to be closed at the Mokelumne River. At highway speed it’s almost impossible to get all the info.

— Scott Wheeler,

Pleasant Hill

AHere you go. Caltrans is paving a half-mile section of Highway 12 in Santa Rosa between Brush Creek Road and Farmers Lane. Crews will pave between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Caltrans will leave one lane open in each direction during paving.

They will use rubberized asphalt and on top of that, will apply a layer of open-graded pavement, which provides enhanced traction in rainy weather. As open grade pavement is porous, it allows water to seep to the nonporous levels of asphalt where it runs off the road.

QThe story about the lady trying to find her car in a Costco parking lot reminds me of my old boss. When he couldn’t find his car in the multilevel parking structure, he’d set off the alarm on his remote and follow the sound. Ties in nicely with the obnoxious car-locking beep thread, too, doesn’t it?

—Steph Zervas,

Millbrae

AIt most certainly does. Other than starting the alarm to locate his car, I hope he was a terrific boss.