Road safety is the state’s responsibility

To the editor:

It’s quickly approaching winter and time for Valley commuters to psych up for another year of precarious driving on the Glenn Highway. With increasing safety factors of the diminishing daylight, the early morning frost on the road and the quickly approaching termination dust on the mountains, I am delighted that I no longer have to make the drive to Anchorage; but I certainly sympathize with those who tackle it year after year.

The Glenn Highway continues to lack proper lighting, painted lane markings and road maintenance. The ruts in the road were all that kept my vehicle on the road on numerous occasions. A few years ago, I wrote a letter to the governor asking for consideration from the state to increase visibility by adding lighting and alternate markings for lanes, or options for a safer highway for drivers.

An aide from the governor’s office responded, indicating that the state has “already greatly improved the road over the past few years” and simply ignored my plea.

Since that time, I have seen only portions of the highway being repaved over the same sections and no lighting has been added. Ruts that keep your vehicle on the road or the grooves on the right-hand lane that let you know when you’re over too far are simply inadequate. A well-maintained highway with safe and proper lighting would increase driver visibility, potentially reducing the amount of accidents and moose kills on the highway.

I would like to think state officials would consider safe highways paramount over some ulterior motive to keep the drive as treacherous as possible so that they keep the money and population in Anchorage.

Donna Faeo

Wasilla