Dear Mahatma: Will Scott Street in downtown Little Rock be extended two-way south to Sixth Street now that construction has started on the Broadway Bridge? Doing so would facilitate traffic flow when taking the Main Street Bridge. -- Weary Traveler
Dear Traveler: You're weary now? When the Broadway Bridge goes out of service in (estimated) May, and there's a fender-bender on one of the other two bridges, your weariness will increase dramatically, along with your commute time.
Scott Street is one way north until it hits Capitol (Fifth Street). It's two-way from there to the Main Street Bridge. At some point, Scott will be two-way to Sixth, so drivers headed south can turn onto Sixth and head toward the state Capitol and all those other state government workplaces.
Bill Henry, the city's traffic engineering manager, said he doesn't yet know the time frame.
Dear Mahatma: Imagine a nice, wide street. On one side there's a sidewalk. I've always thought safe walking practice recommended walking into oncoming traffic. But this approach sometimes requires you to skip the sidewalk and walk along the other side of the street instead. Some drivers signal their disagreement, waving a suggestion to get on the sidewalk. What does The Mahatma say? -- Jim
Dear Jim: The Mahatma says get on the sidewalk, even if traffic comes up behind you. That's why this thing is called a sidewalk.
In his neighborhood, The Mahatma didn't have many sidewalks. Then the city of North Little Rock got enthused about sidewalks and put them all over the place, whether or not homeowners wanted to lose a chunk of their front yards. Now, when he takes a walk with Herself, they always get on the sidewalk. That way, if we are run over, at least the driver has to get over the curb.
Dear Mahatma: The new exit to the outlet malls from Interstate 430 seems dangerous. It has a sharp curve with no rail to prevent a car from sailing out over the mall. Any plans for a rail? -- Carolyn
Dear Carolyn: Mark Headley, engineer for District 6 of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, has an answer.
He said the ramp was constructed with a safety zone, or recovery area, that extends about 30 feet from the edge of the travel lane. This zone allows for a safe recovery before a vehicle would enter a steeper slope beyond the zone.
If a vehicle is being driven at the posted speed, it should not go beyond the safety zone even if it leaves the roadway, he said.
Metro on 06/20/2015