US95

[rjones@airgap.net]

I think I have a unique perspective on this whole US95 issue. I drive from
Moscow to Newark, CA and back once a week. It's 960 miles and about 16 hours
of driving time one way. I am very much in tune with 95 and it's flaws.
Here are the ones that I think are the worst:
1) 95 goes through Oregon. The speed limit drops to 55 all the way and there
are a lot of cops in Jordan Valley and camping out near the 95/78 weigh
station to enforce this. The limit is 65 in Idaho and 70 in Nevada.
2) Ice fog. On every trip this winter I have driven through ice fog. On
Thursday Night my minivan picked up a good half inch of ice on all
forward facing parts.
3) Nowhere to pass. I drive late at night to avoid the worst of it but
it's just about impossible to pass anywher on 95. North of White Bird
it gets better but not much better.
4) Grades. White Bird and Lewiston put a hurting on anything other than
a two seater.
5) Wind. I have dents from tumbleweed hitting my minivan on Thursday night.
It was impossible to maintain lane control above about 35 miles an hour.

How can we solve this? I would suggest some tunnels, and perhaps a wind break
of trees along the road. Run 95 right out the bottom of Idaho down to
Winnemucca. Sure, McDermitt will die off but the only thing there is the
Say When casino. Perhaps a covered roadway if tunnels are not acceptable.
Winter driving on 95 is the worst I've ever seen. At least it's not as
heavy in the traffic department; I was stuck on Donner Pass on Superbowl
Sunday b/c Californians were too busy putting Jeep Grand Cherokees into 
the median and other cars. I gave up and pulled off and waited out the reno
returners. I certainly don't want to open up Moscow like Reno or Tahoe 
but the current situation is just beyond stupid. Most of the truckers
I talk with take 84 up to 395 and take that up rather than deal with
95. The price we all pay is higher prices for products brought up from
the south.

Sorry for rambling but I drive 95 a lot and it's a serious sore point for me.
No, driving over across Oregon to 5 and down isn't really an option.
--
Ry Jones