Limiting access to U.S. 2 would ease congestion

There have been numerous articles and letters to the editor about the safety and congestion on U.S. 2 between Monroe and Stevens Pass. The latest article proposed a six-lane road with a rail line in the middle. While an excellent idea, it is so far over the top it will never receive any serious attention. Just the tunnel through the Cascade range of solid granite would cost billions. So lets air some realistic solutions.

The main problems with U.S. 2 have been identified many times as crossover accidents and congestion. Congestion, or the thought of future slow traffic ahead, raises the short fuse of drivers and causes them to take more risks, like passing on a blind corner. Since a four-lane U.S. 2 is not something you will see until you see I-5 and I-405 each at 12 lanes, we can rule that option out.

In my opinion the major problem with U.S. 2 is the fact that Sultan, Startup and Gold Bar have hijacked the 55 mph state highway and turned it in to Main Street. The multitude of road intersections, businesses, driveways and stoplights turn Main Street into a crawl, particularly in the summer on Sunday afternoons. This backup can start at Index and creep along at 5 miles per hour. Once past the last stoplight in Sultan the traffic flows once again.

So the fix is to prevent further expansion of driveways and roads onto U.S. 2. A frontage road would be needed to serve new connections to U.S. 2. For the existing roadway, between Sultan and Gold Bar, it would be relegated to a frontage road. (Yes I know, business will fight tooth and nail against this.) The cheapest option would be to turn the land between the current road and the railroad into the new limited access U.S. 2. It appears some of this land is city parks and they will scream at this option also. But remember this adage, there are consequences to any action. They chose to develop their city along U.S. 2 and now the consequences have come home to roost. A new road around the 3 cities would be another option, but that would isolate them even further.

To minimize the crossover collision problem it is important to reduce the slow traffic problem. One phase would be to build passing lanes on the steeper grades that slow the heavier vehicles to a crawl. The other slow traffic problem results from what I call the “weak knee syndrome.” These are the drivers who travel at 60-plus mph on the straight stretches and then slow down to 40 on many of the curves, even in dry weather. These places could be identified by the frequent travelers and design requests made to smooth the bad curves out. This would increase the average speed on the road, and reduce road rage.

The above suggestions will still cost millions, but it seems more realistic than pushing for a new muti-lane corridor. It is my hope this article will start a discussion on the possibilities or reclaiming a limited-access, 55-mph U.S. 2.

Curt Young lives in Snohomish.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

RGB version
Editorial cartoons for Monday, March 18

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Carson gets a chance to sound the horn in an Everett Fire Department engine with the help of captain Jason Brock during a surprise Make-A-Wish sendoff Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at Thornton A. Sullivan Park in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: Everett voters will set course for city finances

This fall and in coming years, they will be asked how to fund and support the services they use.

Devotees of TikTok, Mona Swain, center, and her sister, Rachel Swain, right, both of Atlanta, monitor voting at the Capitol in Washington, as the House passed a bill that would lead to a nationwide ban of the popular video app if its China-based owner doesn't sell, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Lawmakers contend the app's owner, ByteDance, is beholden to the Chinese government, which could demand access to the data of TikTok's consumers in the U.S. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Editorial: Forced sale of TikTok ignores network of problems

The removal of a Chinese company would still leave concerns for data privacy and the content on apps.

Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, watches the State of the State speech by Gov. Jay Inslee on the second day of the legislative session at the Washington state Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Editorial: Legislature has its own production of ‘The Holdovers’

What state lawmakers left behind in good ideas that should get more attention and passage next year.

Comment: Measles outbreaks show importance of MMR vaccinations

The highly contagious disease requires a 95 percent vaccination rate to limit the spread of outbreaks.

Harrop: Should ‘affordable’ come at cost of quality of living?

As states push their cities to ignore zoning rules, the YIMBYs are covering for developers.

Saunders: Classified document cases show degrees of guilt

President Biden’s age might protect him, but the special prosecutor didn’t exonerate him either.

Comment: Clearing the internet of misinformation, deep fakes

With social networks’ spotty moderation record, users need to identify and call out problems they see.

Eco-Nomics: Price of gas, fossil fuels higher than you think

Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels force unseen costs in climate disasters, illness and more.

Vote against I-2117 to keep best tool to protect climate

We voters will be offered the opportunity to repeal Washington state’s Climate… Continue reading

Lack of maternal health care raises risks of deadly sepsis

In today’s contentious climate, we often hear political debates about maternal health… Continue reading

Trump’s stance on abortion isn’t moderate; it’s dangerous

Voters deserve to know the facts and the truth about what will… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.