respublica

Winter will not leave

Another round of snow yesterday afternoon, more accidents on the highways. Here's what bugs me. MoDOT needs to go over to IDOT and learn how to clear roads in a timely and worthwhile manner. The lecture a MoDOT official gave viewers on local news Friday morning was a waste. He claimed they were out with 200 trucks pre-treating ahead of the storm. He also said, "The agency wants to make sure roads are clear and safe for all drivers for Fridays commute." But you'd never have known this if you were one of those who tried to drive on any of the Missouri roads. Another several hundred crashes and a horrific pile-up near Concordia Missouri.

I don't know what they use for treating the roads in this state, but it doesn't benefit drivers much. Dale left Clayton for Collinsville yesterday afternoon a little before 3 and he said 64/40 was horrible, you couldn't see the pavement for the snow. But once into Illinois the roads were clear, mainly wet, but in many areas almost dry.

So what's the difference in how the two states handle winter weather? There is a lot Illinois could teach Missouri.

A New Leader

This may be a first, mattresses overtook ladders while falling onto local highways. On 70 at Union a mattress this morning and yesterday afternoon on 55 at Meramec.

Mattresses 12

Ladders 11

Catching up on the falls

The end of last week saw several mattresses fall onto the highways, one spot had 2. Then during yesterday's afternoon rush hour, a ladder fell on 55 near Reavis Barracks.

So,

Mattresses 10

Ladders 11

An icy morning memory

Yesterday, Sunday, all of us in the St. Louis metro area and beyond woke up to a shiny glaze of slippery ice on every outdoor surface. it didn't look so thick and awful until we walked out on it and barely kept standing. Ferdie stepped out and his back legs immediately went out on him sideways. He was done with going out for the rest of the day. Cars driven by people on highways were sliding and often crashing into each other. Even some salt trucks over-turned. It was bad and lasted for most of the morning.

What amazed us was the man who delivers our Post-Dispatch each day. He somehow managed to get the paper on our lawn by 5:30 before any of the seminary streets were salted. Then he drove downhill to the neighbors with their paper and back up the hill, around the curve of the chapel and back to Clayton Road. I have no idea how he did this, but we talked about that guy and how outstanding that was all day. We wouldn't have complained if he had not attempted it or even waited until afternoon.

The Post-Dispatch needs to give him an award.

The Musial Memorial Bridge

Can you believe it's been five years since the official opening of the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge? I sure can't.

It's been helpful during Poplar Street Bridge construction, but not always easy taking St. Louis side streets to get to and from it. I will say, though, the side streets have given us a new view of neighborhoods around downtown which we wouldn't normally have ever seen.

Squandering a big lead

Who knows what was going on yesterday, it must have been a big day for people changing out or moving mattresses because 3 fell on local highways. They're narrowing the big lead ladders had.

Mattresses 6

Ladders 9

Adding up

I guess last week when the snow finally went away and the temperatures rose a bit, people decided to get their ladders and mattresses moving again. Especially ladders.  Watch out everyone.

Mattresses 3

Ladders 9

The falling continues

I've been behind in posting the number of mattresses and ladders which have hit St. Louis roadways in 2019 so this is catch up day.

Mattresses 2

Ladders 6

2019's Where to go for whatever

The travel writers for Trip Savvy have posted their choices for the best places for any kind of vacation.

The best overall destination at number one is Memphis. This surprised me. It seems Memphis is now a "hotbed of activity" with tons of things to do and eat. Number 2 is Rapid City, South Dakota for those who are outdoor types. And number 3 is for history buffs-San Antonio. There are 21 cities listed in total.

The entire list by category is here and quite interesting information.

A different kind of highway debris

This morning St. Louis drivers on 55 near Union were treated to a different kind of debris on the road. A truck lost its load of televisions. Quite different from the normal mattresses and ladders.