Drivetime Mahatma

Be patient, your turn is coming

Dear Mahatma: What's up with the delay in opening the second left-turn on Barrow at Markham? Seems like those barrels have been up for months -- about the same time required for a left-hand turn! -- Southside

Dear Southside: We are told by our sources at City Hall that the operation at Barrow and Markham is being changed. Well, yeah. To open the additional left-turn lane, a feature devoutly to be desired, the traffic signal displayed must be changed. This requires the installation of a new pole, mast arm and foundation so that the signals can be aligned with the lanes.

The city has contracted for the construction of the pole foundation. After which, installation of the pole, removal of the barrels, and a wild party of celebration.

Dear Mahatma: Speed limit signs on U.S. 67-167 are obviously incorrect. A driver who does the speed limit is in danger of being run over. We could pay for an entire bypass from Cabot to Interstate 430 if a speed trap were set up for only a week. I dare say we could set up bleachers and charge admission. -- Lois and Bob

Dear Folks: No doubt you refer specifically to that straightaway in North Little Rock that is both U.S. 67-167 and Interstate 40. The Mahatma often accesses this roadway from North Hills Boulevard. The experience can be harrowing.

Don't be shy about asking for enforcement. Give a call to Capt. Alex Finger, commander of Troop A in Little Rock of the Arkansas State Police. He's at 501-618-8282. Surely, he would give your concerns the attention they deserve. But be careful. It would be irony if there were speed enforcement and you were ticketed. Not that you would speed, but we can sum up traffic enforcement in one word: You never know.

On a semi-related note, U.S. 67 has opened from Arkansas 226 to Walnut Ridge. So now the drive from North Little Rock to Walnut Ridge is four lanes all the way.

Dear Ma: Why would you allow a correspondent to badmouth an area of our fair city, then turn around and do the same yourself? I refer to your column of last week when a reader noted a misspelling on a street sign, then made a snide comment about the children of Chenal. Was that necessary? -- Shari

Dear Shari: Thank you for helping us see this through your eyes. No slight was intended, but we are reminded that the right tone is essential in newswriting of all kinds. In fact, an old friend and reader just the other day advised us not to be so flippant. To quote the Army Corps of Engineers: Let us try.

Now, let's find the newsroom sword, so that we may fall upon it.

Dear Mahatma: We saw this plate on a Honda last week -- COGIT8. It really got us to thinking. Thanks for all your hard work. -- Will

Dear Will: You made a pun. Love it. As for hard work, writing this column is the easiest thing we've done since scoring our first newspaper job in 1906. Give or take.

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Metro on 08/27/2016

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