Phoenix, AZ

Announcement blurb: The Arizona Department of Transportation is wanting public input on an alternate route to northern Arizona other than Interstate 17. There are four public meetings being planned for next week in Flagstaff, Prescott Valley, Camp Verde and Anthem. There is already a study being conducted to see if an alternative route should be pursued.

Now for my two cents: ADOT, ya think? To say that particular stretch of interstate is prone to accidents, career rubberneckers, and Sunday drivers pluggin’ up Friday drive-time is a major understatement — right up there with someone standing downtown in summertime muttering “Wow — it’s hot today.”

One particular time I vividly recall of such ridiculous situations is my wedding in 2003 being delayed severely due to a quad falling off someone’s trailer on northbound I-17. Hubby and I traveled with two friends up to Prescott Valley early on that Friday, not even in rush hour getaway traffic…and we ran into that mess. The only way we got around it was being diverted through the Sunset Point northbound ramps. I was an hour late to my own wedding. (A plus out of this was that most of the people coming up from Phoenix were delayed, too — but not much. Our interstates are poorly planned out, so the most know-how Arizonans have ways to make up for lost time. Don’t ask.) The only late wedding in my father’s 36 years of ministry and it’s his own daughter’s!

ADOT should also seriously consider checking out an alternative route out to Globe. The Renn Festival that runs out that way in Apache Junction every February through April is a great and fun thing to do…but the traffic is horrible going to it and leaving it. Personal experience: coming back from a Renn Festival visit last year, a guy on the side of the road walked passed us three times before we got to Highway 60. Kid you not. We didn’t go to this year’s festival because we knew we’d spend more time in traffic than at the festival.

Seriously, ADOT has a lot to make up for across the state, especially on the routes getting out of Phoenix. I have traveled on I-17 to go visit family and friends in northern Arizona many times over the last 15 years that I’ve been in-state. Each time I did, I realized in certainty, and with an underlying fear, that there would be no chance for an effective evacuation out of Phoenix, should one ever be called for. More times than not, there would be some minor accident (like with a quad falling off a trailer) that would back up the traffic, most times all the way back into Phoenix. With the threat of terrorists, and Phoenix being a top ten city in their sights, the possibility of a (what’s left of the city) evacuation is more real than any other time in state history. The most Arizona-driving savvy would make it out, I’m sure…most would not, I fear.

I have never understood this state’s lack of forward thinking in key areas. With transportation, I would think being prepared for the betterment of the people would be a priority, especially after recent, granted, natural, disasters still affecting other states in the Union.

Now — fellow Arizonans in Flagstaff, Prescott Valley, Camp Verde and Anthem — show up for those meetings! You could always say you were late because of the backup on I-17…

ADOT, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Camp Verde, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Anthem, Globe, Apache Junction, Renn Festival