Lane Changes Irk Drivers.(Final)

Byline: Road Warrior D'Val Westphal Of The Journal

THE NEW JEFFERSON/I-25 STRIPING IS A REAL TURKEY: So say several readers who are not at all happy with the changes.

SMS e-mails that on the northbound frontage road, "up until several weeks ago, the leftmost lane (lane 1) was left-turn only. Moving to the east, the next lane (lane 2) was left turn and straight. The next lane to the east was straight only (lane 3), and the rightmost lane (lane 4) was right-turn only. Recently, lane 2 was changed to left-turn only, deleting the option to go straight in that lane and leaving only lane 3 for those who wish to continue straight, northbound on the frontage road after crossing Jefferson. ... At worse, the change appears to create unnecessary hazards. By allowing only traffic in lane 3 to go straight, it leaves drivers jockeying for position to change to lane 2 after crossing Jefferson. Is there a good reason for the conversion of lane 2 from left turn/straight to left-turn only? If not, what steps must be undertaken to get lane 2 changed back?"

Another reader e-mails that the changes are "a terrible mistake, because the largest number of cars go straight! Many people stay on the frontage road to get to San Mateo via Osuna or to turn into the Olive Garden. In addition, the ramp picks up a number of folks who have entered the pre-Jefferson frontage road from businesses and continue straight to get onto the interstate after the light. Finally, many people are ignoring the re-striping and are going straight from the lane ... that used to give you a choice of straight or left turn, causing a dangerous situation."

We're not done yet.