New stoplights mean safer travels on P-W

The Palmer-Wasilla Highway has become a lot more colorful in recent weeks, and will continue to become more so soon.

Red, yellow and green are fashionable highlights as motorists on this dangerously busy stretch of road get used to a new driving cadence — stopping at new lights along the thoroughfare. The newest light is up at Hemmer Road, the turn for the back way to Palmer High School. This joins the new light at Hyer Road, and will be followed by lights at Wagon Road/Schelin Spur and Equestrian Street.

While those who zip between Palmer and Wasilla on this road may find the new lights an annoyance, those who must access the highway can almost be heard cheering. Making a left turn onto the Palmer-Wasilla Highway (and even off from it some days) has not only become very frustrating, but dangerous and certainly not for the faint of heart. And if your vehicle decides to sputter as you turn, your life can flash before your eyes.

Hardly a week goes by that the Frontiersman does not run an entry in the Police Beat about a rear-ending on the P-W.

The lights should allow better traffic flow, and a safer ingress and egress for those turning on and off the highway. It could add a few minutes to the Wasilla-Palmer dash, but reducing accidents along the highway is worth it.

Drive safely this holiday weekend.

Celebrate 4th lawfully

Speaking of colors and holidays, it’s time for red, white and blue. Today, July 4, is our country’s 232nd birthday. Today we celebrate our freedom and our liberty.

One of the great early patriots, Benjamin Franklin, noted “Liberty best thrives in the woods.” As Alaskans, we know that well. We relish the freedoms we have here to enjoy the majesty of this great land — walking for miles without crossing a fence, fishing in countless lakes and streams without restriction (other than needing a license), and reveling at having the liberties of an Alaska.

These liberties don’t include firing off fireworks in most of the Mat-Su Borough.

Let’s face it. On the Fourth of July in Alaska, it just doesn’t get dark enough to have a good fireworks display anyway. Coupled with a burn ban, it’s better to leave the matches alone.

So rather than risking your own safety, or a citation from the Palmer or Wasilla police or the troopers, enjoy a local professional fireworks show. If you’re intent on lighting off your own, please do so legally, which in the Mat-Su Borough is in the Houston city limits.