More freeway shield emblems will be painted on pavement

Q

Caltrans began a pilot program that consisted of painting giant freeway shield emblems directly onto the roadway at interchanges prone to confuse drivers.

I’ve seen these at the 50/80 junction near Sacramento, on the approach to Interstate 680 on Willow Pass Road in Concord, and at 680 at 24. There are many more freeway interchanges where these painted emblems would be helpful to drivers.

Can you ask readers to suggest some locations of their own?

— Andrew Pierce,

Pleasant Hill

A

Will do, but first I think you’ll like this. Thanks to the higher gas tax approved a few years ago, these painted markings will be used in more locations.

There are more than four dozen locations in the Bay Area where these markings have been installed in the pavement and dozens more are coming.

They would be welcomed at 880 to 237, at 101 and 880, at 280 and Highway 85, and 280 to 880. Where else would you love to see them, readers?

Q

I read about the “stupid” person who stopped on Interstate 680 trying to cut into the Mission Boulevard exit line.

This happens all the time at the 680-84 exit ramp toward Livermore, the 580 exit ramp toward First Street in Livermore, at the Crow Canyon offramp toward 680 in Danville, and the 680 and 880 ramps at Highway 24.

Installing 5-foot poles on the exit lane so that once you’re there you must continue in that lane and people can’t cut in would be so helpful.

Why can’t Caltrans do this to all freeway exit lanes, thus eliminating all the “stupid” people from causing all this havoc on the freeways?

— Alice Re

A

These can be both helpful and dangerous.

Yes, they could reduce the number of dive-bombers, but many pylons get run over and need to be constantly replaced, putting road crews at risk. They need to be be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Q

About drivers on Interstate 680 south in Fremont who stop in the slow lane while they try to dive-bomb onto the backed-up Mission Street exit lane, I’ve also seen this happen at many other places.

But for drivers trying to get from 680 to 880 who find the Mission Street exit well backed up onto 680, here’s my secret alternate route (shhhh, don’t tell anyone).

Continue down 680 one more exit to Scott Creek Road and head west, turn left on Warm Springs, then right on Dixon Landing Road, which will take you to 880. It is a great option. — Dale Allison, Sunnyvale

A

Thanks for sharing your secret and (shhhh), I won’t tell anyone.