What is the Washington state Department of Transportation thinking? Sunday night I was riding my Harley north on I-5 between mileposts 189 and 193 (Everett mall and downtown Everett). I was aware and prepared for the grooved pavement in the construction zone. What I was not prepared for or warned about was a 4-inch, almost vertical edge of paving that was running on an angle across the lane — this is unbelievable! Because it was dark I did not see (or expect!) the edge of asphalt until I hit it; my bike pitched hard to the right, I have no idea how I caught it and stayed upright. Once I passed this almost life-ending hazard I notice the typical “Motorcycles use extreme caution” sign but never anything warning me of this specific hazard.
I have been riding motorcycles for over 30 years and have never seen a construction hazard left like this. I know enough about road construction to know that paving equipment is designed to pave one lane width at a time, so I have no idea why the construction was approached in this manner. The DOT had better learn from this and hope no one gets killed before they fix it.
Randy Wentworth
marysville
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