Anacortes Hwy 20 Construction on now

I like the idea of the sling launch in keeping the trailer out of salt water. But if I have access to a fresh water hose to rinse stuff off, I can live with that.
Click to expand...

Squalicum has two fresh water wash hoses.

As to traffic circles, they are putting those damned things in all over. People/drivers who know how they work should be fine but the Seattle area is full of passive/aggressive drivers who are brain dead. They have even installed small ones in residential areas. Towing our 25 is, uhm, "challenging" when I encounter them. We have two a mile from our house and they were designed with sloped curbing to be "driven over". It's because they are too small and the roadway too narrow. Our trailer goes over it every time. No way around it....
 
Right now, our plan is to launch in Bellingham to skip the construction.
I am a little nervous about going to Cornet for shrimping early in May, will try Fred's suggestion for the work-around through Anacortes.
 
I just had some fun with traffic circles as a "foreigner" while driving in New Zealand. Go around the traffic circle the wrong way, then turn into the wrong lane. Remember to signal, which meant that I turned on my wipers. Made for exciting driving adventures.

Mark
 
Love Myth Busters. One of the issues, and the reasons that roundabouts were tried in some of our subdivisions, was because of accidents--people ran the stop signs. (Still do). With the roundabouts, they didn't go around, but turned Left against the traffic--because it was ....shorter and faster! The other problem we had, was that fire engines, could not get thru the round about. Granted these were much smaller than the ones noted near Anacortes.

The best solution was one taken at the intersection in Panama City and Panama City Beach--very high traffic areas--and the vast majority of traffic was shuttled over the intersection on two levels of elevation--with stop lights at the bottom, for those who wanted to some contrary way. Far more expensive than the roundabout--but handled a far larger volume of traffic with no stops.

I see the bypass, but why not both ways? (again it would be more expensive). There is definitely a learning curve--and I used the Long Beach Calif. roundabout several times daily for many years, but it was the neophyte who caused the problems--or that person who didn't follow the rules...)
 
While in the Dominican Republic a couple of years ago, I got to drive through the epitome of insanity. There were about 7 streets that came together into an intersection about 1 acre in size, and even though there were lanes and lights NO ONE paid any attention to them. Everyone picked whatever way they wanted to go and went when and where they pleased. The bigger the vehicle the more right of way you had. If you stopped anywhere, you could just plan on getting old in that spot. It wasn't fair to run over the ubiquitous motorcycles but they could be bullied into submission as long as you were moving. Counting motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians along with 4 wheeled vehicles there were probably 2-300 moving entities in the "roundabout" at any given time. The average motorcycle had 3.8 riders, bicycles were about 2.5.

We were moving 5 vehicles in a convoy through that city. Glad we had radio communication.... and a stay tight policy.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

1_10_2012_from_Canon_961.highlight.jpg
 
I can relate, Harvey. During my Peace Corps days we drove on the BEST side of the road, at least when you could tell. During the long rains (a season) you couldn't see how deep the holes were so you just went for it. Life was interesting. Drivers could claim the best side or run through a stop sign or light if 1) they were bigger, 2) had a louder horn, 3) were military, or 4) if the vehicle was a Mercedes, which meant a gang boss or government minister (or both). I rode a "piki-piki" or motorcycle, so I had to do the dodge and weave. Thank goodness for the USA. I kiss the ground every time I return from working abroad.
 
thataway":zv8mluxs said:
I see the bypass, but why not both ways?
Click to expand...

Sharpes Corner (the intersection we're talking about) is a T-intersection, so there is no road coming in from the north; hence it is simple to allow the westbound traffic to bypass the entire roundabout
 
The back-up for the current work on the Gibralter Rd roundabout has been all the way down the hill to Sharps Corner, and at times heading east on the main highway. So the backroad is definitely better, and has nice views to enjoy.
 
For those of us who are not local to Anacortes, could you post the street names and direction of travel (east or west bound) for these detours?
 
Note so far the construction has been mostly confined to the south of the actual Sharpes corner intersection. Backups are likely going to get far worse in a week or so once they start working at the intersection itself.
 
Back
Top