Dear men of Deering Public Works. I really appriciate how you took such fine care of the back roads this morning (after the rain of Wednesday + drop in night-time temp = ice everywhere). You did a fine job of sanding, so well that I couldn't tell those roads that are dirt from those that are paved. But . . .
Could you at least drop one grain of sand or salt on the main freaking road? Actually, I prefer more than one grain, but by the 1/2" sheet of continuous ice on Rt.149 (amazingly, starting at the Deering/Weare town line - and, I have no doubt, ending at the Hillsboro/Deering town line), in both lanes, I could surmise that no one thought to do that.
I realize that you were all very busy at the Deering General Store drinking coffee and eating breakfast when I went by there at a whopping 20 MPH (in 4WD and wondering if I should shift to low-range to make it up the hill that was up ahead).
I do not begrudge you breakfast (or coffee), but I believe if you had used your head a little bit, that at least part of Rt 149 could have been taken care of with no extra effort on your part. After all, you had to drive the town trucks along 149 to get to the Deering General Store. Just a push of a button (or pull of a lever - whatever) and Voila, it would have been like that part of the road just took care of itself - like that hill that I was preparing to traverse.
7 miles of unmaintained main road its just rediculous when I was looking at all the side roads that I would have bet were in good enough shape to hold horse races on (and the track would have been called "good" or even "fast").
So guys, if you need help with the concepts that I have outlined, please give me a call and I will draw you a diagram to make it easier for you to understand.
Thank you for your dedication,
A New Hampshire Taxpayer
P.S. Don't be looking for a pay raise from me next year guys.
Ahhh...I so don't miss the ice - especially the black ice - that I used to deal with in Colorado.
Posted by: Da Goddess | December 19, 2003 at 12:06 AM
...my father had many expressions, each for different occassions...as he spotted the very first snowflake of the year, spiraling out of the sky, he would say "bet the 'gritters' are out on stike in sheffield"...I have found that I also repeat this...more over I was talking to my daughter yesterday and mentioned I would be driving to london on monday and there was a threat of snow she replied "bet the gritters are out on strike in sheffield"...the girl has never been to sheffield!!!...
Posted by: billy | December 19, 2003 at 05:39 AM
I suppose they chose not to salt that strip because it is a State route, and they figure the state should pony up the cost of maintenence. I've never understood that attitude, either, Bogie. I like how the Amish think. If it needs to be done, they all see to it!
Posted by: Buffy | December 19, 2003 at 02:46 PM
Yup. On the county roads going into work, the roads are always maintained. Once you hit the "city limit" sign, all signs of care disappear. Must be a government thing. Like 7 guys leaning on shovels, and one guy in the hole using it.
I think the road maintainence people ought to be forced to live at the end of their road responsibilities. Bet they take care of it so they can make it home after work.
Posted by: Wichi Dude | December 19, 2003 at 05:24 PM
yeah, I know this problem VERY well...
I live in Pawtucket, one of the larger cities in RI, and they can't be bothered to plow/sand ANY of the side roads and they just sand the main roads and (i'd guess) figure that the high traffic will take care of it.
meanwhile, in Cumberland, right next door to us (where I grew up....), the roads are pavement clear.... go figure.
The situation was no different when I was living in Providence (the frickin' capital city!), either. I guess the larger towns/cities with the bigger budgets can't be bothered to use the money how we'd like them to, eh?
NOTHING (well, very little...) bothers me more than seeing a city (or even a state) truck driving along in a snowstorm with it's plow up and the sand machine off....
Posted by: Jim S | December 23, 2003 at 04:42 PM
149 is a state highway and is the re$pon$ibility of the $tate
Posted by: inlaw | December 24, 2003 at 06:07 PM
I keep getting told that, but I find it funny (and not in a ha-ha sort of way) that the Weare end and Hillsboro end of the road gets maintained, but the middle doesn't (or at least not very well).
Posted by: Bogie | December 25, 2003 at 06:54 AM