Look both ways before crossing the street

A lot of people are ignoring advice from their mothers.

Or maybe they never got the advice in the first place.

One of the first things I learned growing up — a long time ago — is to look both ways when crossing the street.

I’ve noticed a lot of people lately not doing this. They simply step into the street without looking to one side of the other, as though there were no cars within a mile.

Younger people, for some reason, seem more prone to this.

Usually they’re in a crosswalk, but not always. Usually they have the light, but not always.

Yes, vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians, but pedestrians lose some of their legal standing when they jaywalk. See state law.

So the law says the driver is supposed to stop — how can you be sure they will? What’s the point in taking the chance? How hard is it to turn your head?

If I’m walking, I don’t trust people to stop. I always try to make eye contact with the driver, or in some other way make sure they’re stopped before I go.

This is my life I’m talking about.

Railroad crossing is rough
Johnny Vasiliou of Arlington writes: I’m a little concerned about the railroad crossing at the intersection of 67th Avenue NE and 172nd Street NE. It’s a very rough crossing in both directions across 172nd and I’m sure it’s not good for cars.

People who use that intersection daily know how rough it is — if you don’t slow down when crossing, your car shakes like it’s coming apart. Is there anything in the works to have it smoothed out at all?

Gus Melonas, spokesman for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, responds: I have advised our engineering department, who will inspect and make repairs as necessary. This could include asphalt work.

Trestle work to resume
The state has given everyone a break by putting a hold on work on U.S. 2 during the Evergreen State Fair. That will change, though, when the fair ends Monday.

The westbound U.S. trestle will close Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights for repairs to concrete girders underneath the roadway.
Crews are scheduled to close westbound U.S. 2 between Highway 9 and I-5 at 7:30 p.m. each night and reopen the roadway at 5 a.m. the following day. The ramps leading to the westbound trestle also will close.

Drivers will follow a signed detour using Highway 9 and Highway 528 to the north and Highway 9 and Highway 96 to the south. Drivers should allow 15 to 35 minutes for their trips depending on their destination and current traffic conditions.

This work is part of the $8 million U.S. 2 trestle rehab project. Crews plan more closures on the westbound U.S. 2 trestle the remainder of the summer while they repair the girders. For details and a detour map, visit the the state’s project page.

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