Construction season is upon us; even more caution, patience needed

Two years ago, a flagger at the intersection of Lucus Road and the Parks Highway was hit and badly injured by a car. The driver fled the scene, but was eventually found and convicted of first-degree assault. He got seven years in prison. She suffered permanent injuries.

Another flagger was injured the same summer, only not as severely.

Flaggers are out there to help move us along as quickly and safely as possible.

Those traveling on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway have noticed construction at its intersection with Trunk Road. That is the first major log jam so far as traffic lights are being installed or moved to accommodate the new Trunk Road route. Already, drivers are trying to circumvent the orders of flaggers who take their commands from people coordinating the coming and going of trucks and other construction equipment.

As the summer begins, these kinds of delays are to be expected and patience is mandatory. After all, we’re the ones who always ask for new and improved roads, so we should now understand these projects take time.

If waiting for traffic to clear bothers you, you should figure out another route to get to your destination.

For example, the Glenn to Parks is plenty fast from Palmer to Wasilla and that avoids the Trunk Road construction that will likely go on all summer.

In the end, Trunk will be a much safer road without all the turns. There will be more construction as the summer progresses, and there is a website that can help you navigate the detours and delays. Visit www.alaskanavigator.org for the DOT Navigator. Once there, use the directional arrows to find the construction site that interests you.

For instance, the Trunk Road project information says there will be lane restrictions and tells what the road will be like when it’s done and a phone number to call for more information.

If you are a commuter, there’s information about Glenn Highway work.

Clicking on this site could help make your drive more manageable. That, in turn, will mitigate some of the stress for everybody, including flaggers who stand close to the road and are extremely vulnerable.