Palmer/Wasilla Highway becomes more dangerous every day

Frontiersman editorial board

As winter finally seems to have gripped the Valley, driving conditions go from difficult to dangerous. Many Valley roads are now overburdened with traffic as improvements and maintenance struggles to keep pace with population growth. Dealing with the increasing traffic congestion is frustrating for many motorists during clear weather conditions, and when roadways become icy, frustration can quickly change to white-knuckled fear.

One of the most difficult roads to negotiate in the Valley is the main artery between Palmer and Wasilla, the Palmer/Wasilla Highway. Traffic on that stretch of road is relatively heavy during most of the day. During the morning and evening rush, congestion on that road creates many dangerous situations every day.

The proliferation of businesses and the abundance of side streets finds many drivers turning onto and off of the Palmer/Wasilla, and because the road is only two lanes, many bad decisions result. Most Valley drivers have become creative in dealing with overburdened roads. When a motorist is stopped, waiting to make a left turn, it's now the rule, rather than the exception to see other drivers passing on the shoulder -- a dangerous, and illegal option. We've even seen police cars passing on the shoulder.

Many drivers heading home at the end of the workday must make the left turn across the Palmer/Wasilla. It's difficult to turn right onto the highway during rush hour, and it's nearly impossible to safely turn left at many intersections. Icy roads add to the difficulty since the lack of traction makes it more difficult to accelerate from a standstill. We hear the honking horns outside the Frontiersman offices every day as impatience eventually encourages drivers to pull out across dense traffic.

The bus barn for school buses is also located on the Palmer/Wasilla, and watching buses attempt to make the left turn in the afternoon is harrowing. When several buses are lined up to make the turn, they sometimes go in groups, even when it's not safe to do so. It's time for some changes along the Palmer/Wasilla Highway.

The bus barn should either be moved, or something should be done to make it safer for bus drivers to enter traffic. The recent improvements along the highway did little to make travel safer or easier.

We hope improvements along that important roadway are near the top of priority list.