[editor's note: I originally wrote the beginning of this a few weeks back, in a rather angry state. I hesitated posting, as I thought it was probably rather petty, and maybe I should sit on it awhile. Now, some time later, I am still angry, every time I drive to and from anyplace I am reminded of my anger, and I put the time in in the first place to make these very pretty graphics, and I wouldn't want to waste them. It's still probably petty and blown out of proportion, but oh well.]
Is there anything better than heading to work on a Monday morning, only to find out that you have to take a 15-20 minute detour because the entrance to the main road that is 3 minutes away is blocked off? Thank you, City of South Bend. Thank you for that unexpected, but welcome, gift. May I present some images:
US23 is a main road, 3 minutes from our place, that goes almost directly to my work. Driving is still a living hell, but it’s a straight shot, and due to the lack of side streets that connect anything useful, it’s pretty much my only choice. Imagine my joy when I found out that the end of Douglas Rd. was blocked off, and that I was not able to get to US23. It wasn’t just “closed to thru traffic”. It is completely barricaded off, with a wall across the entire road, and a friggin’ bulldozer in front of that. Happy Monday!
This is the way that I am taking to work now.
This is the “suggested” detour that the City of South Bend recommends using. Now, like I mentioned above, I absolutely hate the drivers in this area. I’m a huge fan of short left-turn-only lights where the person at the front of the line takes 30 seconds to get around the corner. I love being behind slow drivers.
I’ve modified the route above for driving back home - but instead of going all the way up to Cleveland/23, I cut through the mall parking lot. It, too, is annoying with it’s speed bump and stop sign in the far corner of the lot that I respectfully ignore, but I do manage to avoid a few lights for the most part.
The road work is supposed to be done by tomorrow, but as of last night, there was still a 30 yard stretch of a hole where the road used to be.
April 11th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
I hate Indiana, have I mentioned that before?
April 14th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Is it wrong of me to laugh at this?
It’s funny in the “I’m glad it’s not happening to me” sort of way.
April 14th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
This is a funny rant. Way to make me laugh uncontrollably. Nice graphics
April 14th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
It’s Friday at it’s still closed. There’s still the hole of one lane, about 30 yds long, and about 3 ft deep. Even after they fill that (when? Next week?), they still have to repave the damn thing. That’ll probably take at least another week. I’ve emailed the engineering department of South Bend asking when April 10 would come, but they haven’t responded yet. Like hell do I want to call them, but that looks like what I’ll have to do. Not like they can do anything about it, though. There’s still a huge freakin’ hole there. I think I’ll take some pictures of it this weekend or next week and post them up. Har dee har har.
April 17th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
Peter, you are freaking hilarious. Thanks for the good laugh!