Don’t worry, they weren’t naked.
Members of LARC Nudists, or Lake Associates Recreation Club of Mount Vernon, were out picking up trash alongside I-5 at the north end of Snohomish County on Saturday.
Clothing is optional at the group’s campground in Mount Vernon, but not along the section of I-5 that LARC has said it will clean at least four times a year.
In addition to wearing their street clothes, the three dozen people who were out picking up after littering motorists have to wear a hard hat, orange vest and thick soled shoes clothes.
"(Nudity) probably wouldn’t be allowed because it would probably be a distraction," said Gene Bremner, a state Department of Transportation staff superintendent.
Although LARC Nudists want the public to know the group exists, its members say they don’t force their lifestyle on the public.
"We don’t want to shock or offend anybody," said Steve Hubbard, LARC vice president. "We’re doing it just to let folks know that nudists are getting to be pretty much mainstream, and just to let folks know that we’re here."
Participating in the state’s Adopt-A-Highway program is also another way the 120-member group participates in community service activities.
On Saturday, LARC Nudists cleaned a 3-mile stretch of northbound I-5 from 300th Street NW to Starbird Road, an isolated section that straddles the Snohomish and Skagit county line.
Watch for their newly planted LARC Nudists Adopt-A-Highway sign on northbound I-5.
The transportation department’s Bremner, who is retiring at the end of the month, started the Adopt-A-Highway program 12 years ago.
"My last good deed for the state," Bremner joked about recruiting a nudist group to help keep the roads clean.
Longer days and blustery spring weather can only mean one thing: remove your studded tires.
State transportation officials are trying to get the word out that March 31 is the last day to legally drive on state roads with studded tires.
According to the state, the studded tires chew up road surfaces at a higher rate than standard tires, causing an extra $10 million in damages each year to state highways.
It also takes longer to stop with studded tires when it’s not snowy or icy.
In fact, the state wouldn’t mind if you got rid of your studded tires altogether.
"Many other winter tire options exist," said Chris Christopher, a transportation department maintenance engineer. "We encourage motorists to do some research on alternative tires. There’s a wealth of information available on tires that are superior to studs and don’t cause damage to roads."
If you want more info on these alternatives go to www.wsdot.
wa.gov/winter/studtire.
If you get caught with the wrong tires, the fine is $86.
Question: When you are headed west into Everett from Lake Stevens on Highway 204, why is there a yield sign instead of a merge sign on the ramp connecting to the Hewitt Avenue Trestle?
The Lake Stevens traffic from 20th Street SE appears to want you to yield, but the Lake Stevens traffic behind you wants you to merge, complete with plenty of honking, etc.
Do you disregard the sign and merge or do you yield to the oncoming traffic?
Mari Jo Elder , Lake Stevens
Answer: Yield, please.
Traffic coming from 20th Street SE is traveling downhill, often at fairly high speeds. Traffic coming from Highway 204 is traveling uphill, typically at a much slower speed. It’s safer for everyone to let the faster traffic have the right-of-way.
The Department of Transportation has a long-term plan to widen U.S. 2 to three lanes across the trestle and realign the on-ramps to improve traffic flow.
Jamie Holter, spokeswoman, state Department of Transportation
Have a question about what’s happening on a road near you? E-mail The Herald at stsmarts@heraldnet.com.
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