Advertisement And boy have I learned more than a few things from the West Avenue reconstruction project, which is inching toward a November deadline.
I have learned that there is no way to rebuild one of the busiest, four-lane thoroughfares in town without really ticking some people off.
Let me say I have few gripes with the construction crews. They seem to be doing the best they can with a huge project, but inconveniences are bound to pop up.
Personally, it took me no more than a couple trips up the street that leads to my home to find that this project was going to push my patience level to an extreme.
The drivers who won’t get moving when the light turns green, those who insist on turning left despite a “no left turn” sign at State Street, and those do-gooders with their random acts of kindness have me saying words God and my mother never want me to say.
Just last week, while traveling north on West Avenue, my wife and I approached a green light at Main Street. We moved forward but came to a screeching halt because the car ahead of us was stopped short of the intersection so they could let a row of cars turn on a red light in front of them.
There you go. Another act of kindness at the detriment of others.
It’s almost daily that I get stuck sitting at La Crosse Street because some joker decides to let everyone out of the Kwik Trip parking lot on my green light.
Look, I’m all in favor of being nice to others but not when you end up dumping on the people behind you.
You know those big, white lines the DOT placed by red lights? They’re there for a reason. If you pull up where you used to go, you’re going to end getting your front end clipped by turning cars who are struggling to make an already tight turn.
Loud cars are all up and down West Avenue, too.
A while back I had a guy in an SUV turn his speakers up so loud I almost lost it. You should never frighten a guy with a weight problem and a bad case of road rage.
At this point, all I can do is take solace knowing there is an end to the project. Then I can stop complaining about other drivers and move to griping about the medians that will force me to drive blocks out of my way so I can turn into my driveway.
Great. More things for me to learn about myself.
When he’s not stuck in traffic, Dan Springer can be reached at (608) 791-8269 or at dspringer@lacrossetribune.com.
