Recent posts

#1

Central States / Re: ODOT proposes retrofitting...

Last post by BigOkie - Today at 12:50:41 PM

Construction appears to be completed; new alignment will start tomorrow.

Note:  this appears to be completed ahead of schedule by a good bit.
Another note:  it does appear to still have some construction working it through June.  Still appears to be ahead if that's the case since the initially plan was early 2025

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/traffic-advisories/2024/traffic-switches-at-memorial-dr--ddi-in-south-tulsa-monday.html

#2

Off-Topic / Re: Minor things that bother y...

Last post by mgk920 - Today at 12:26:25 PM

A couple money-related ones.  One is the short expiration cycle for rewards points at Price Chopper/Market32/Market Bistro.  The checkouts only give the option to use them when you have more than 500.  You can use them before, but have to specifically request it, so I usually wait until then unless I see that some are expiring.  Well, I somehow missed the thing on my receipts mentioning points expiring (either it's gotten less obvious or I got so used to hitting 500 before this happens that I've stopped checking as vigorously as I should) until I finished checking out today, and now I have a few points expiring by the end of the month with no way to use them in time.

More irritating to me are store gift cards, i.e. actual cash, that expire (how the fudge does cash expire?) or deduct a monthly "maintenance fee" after some number of months after purchase, like they have to take my card balance out for a walk or something.

IIRC, Wisconsin state law does not allow gift cards to lose 'face' value.  Like with postage stamps, they want you to buy them, but never use them.

Mike

#3

Off-Topic / Re: Flag Genealogy

Last post by mgk920 - Today at 12:23:33 PM

The state flag of Hawaii also includes the Union Flag in the top left corner.

As did the flag of the Kingdom of Hawaii before it.

Hawaii post-unification started off firmly within the British sphere of influence. British military advisors helped Kamehameha the Great annex Hawaii's other kingdoms. Later, when an over-eager Brit sought to annex Hawaii, the British government reversed that action and restored Hawaii's independence. Only much later did Hawaii slide into the U.S. orbit.

And, thus, the Hawaii state flag includes the British Union Jack in its design.

Mike

#4

Photos, Videos, and More / Re: END signs

Last post by freebrickproductions - Today at 12:23:21 PM

East end of AL 216:

AL 216 END shield by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

#5

Traffic Control / Re: Erroneous road signs

Last post by freebrickproductions - Today at 12:14:39 PM

A relatively minor error here, but I spotted this assembly at the east end of AL 216 yesterday morning:

Something ain't quite right here... by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Something ain't quite right here... by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

#6

Road Enthusiasts Meetings / Re: SWPA25 Road Enthusiast Mee...

Last post by PAHighways - Today at 11:49:47 AM

The tour itinerary has now been posted at https://www.pahighways.com/meets/ with addresses of the stops as well as Google Map links.  It is in PDF format, so it may be printed out for those with in-car or stand-alone GPS systems, or downloaded to a smartphone for easy access while on the road.

Since the tour is far from the restaurant, I felt it would be safer to put that information on the itinerary so we don't end up with a long caravan of vehicles.  This way, drivers can take their time, and choose the route they'd like to take to get to the first stop, such as clinching Truck PA 148.  Also, I would like to avoid a repeat of the 2009 State College Meet where there was a fender bender because a driver was not paying attention to the vehicle in front of them.

#7

Mid-South / Re: April bid openings: $1.09 ...

Last post by Bobby5280 - Today at 11:39:01 AM

In a more literal sense the same argument often seems to be made for expanding I-15 from Barstow to Primm. Why should california pay for upgrading a highway that gets people out of the state to spend money. Well, my opinion is because they have an obligation to upgrade the road to keep traffic moving at acceptable levels and keep people on its roads as safe as possible whether they're residents or not.

Just in case any lawmakers from California forgot, it's the INTERSTATE highway system. It's supposed to be a NATIONAL highway network rather than a bunch of different local roads poorly stitched together. A great deal of the traffic is commercial in nature, travels great distances and does cross state lines.

I've seen plenty of the Oklahoma vs Texas jokes and rivalry -largely influenced by the college football thing. It kind of sucks both OU and UT are going to the SEC rather than just one school or the other. The rivalry will remain intact along with all the tired bullshit connected to it.

Currently, I-35 drops down to just 2 lanes in each direction just North of the US-380 exit in Denton. That's ridiculous. I-35 should have already been 3x3 lanes from the I-35E/W split up to the Red River a long time ago. Some of these current 2-lane sections need to be expanded to at least 4 lanes. In Denton I-35 probably needs to be at least a 5x5 arrangement leading into the E/W split, if not even wider. I-35 construction in Gainesville is an example of playing catch-up.

ODOT expanded I-35 to 3 lanes in each direction from the Red River up to Rogers Road in Thackerville -largely to improve traffic movement to casinos. Plenty of space is available in the median to add additional lanes when needed. Most of the casino customers at places like WinStar are from Texas. Those casinos tend to provide more benefit to tribes (and "white" investors) than they do the state of Oklahoma. ODOT widened the road anyway because traffic is still traffic no matter what license plates are on the vehicles. It's a safety issue.

#8

Mid-South / Re: April bid openings: $1.09 ...

Last post by hotdogPi - Today at 11:25:38 AM

I think DNAGuy was serious. Scott5114 says (not in this thread) he's not the only one with that belief.

[AND]

#9

Mid-South / Re: April bid openings: $1.09 ...

Last post by Rothman - Today at 11:23:27 AM

Time for this discussion to be locked ?! If any body is concerned about tax dollars being wasted, perhaps they should be concerned that their tax dollars are paying for D.O.T. Employees to hijack discussions, spread narratives and other oppositions, for the most childish of reasons. Keep your toxic attitudes off of here AND the roads.

Last I checked, DOT employees were still allowed to have a sense of humor, just like other human beings. But, thank you for the reminder that there are indeed people that do not detect irony, sarcasm, lightheartedness, or nuance out there.

Agreed, but it also seems like this is a running joke that is beaten to death and it isn't really funny or needed for a thread discussing a highway expansion in North Texas. Come up with something original.

And as for the thread being locked, I would think that would be a bit of an overkill.

It is a message board, and difficult to interpret comedy. If there was any smileys used, I did not notice them.

Also I am trying to figure out any possible justifiable reasons for these absurd reactions toward Oklahoma, which Texas has highways connected to. It seems that Nay Sayers on here are worried that Texas is paying for Oklahoma's Roads. I very much doubt such things actually occur.

The dangerous situations and traffic problems in for example Interstate 35 in Texas is absolutely nothing to joke about. Seeing fatalities, or otherwise traffic congestions in areas such as the main lanes and / or the Interchange Ramps ( which includes automobiles lined up in the shoulders ) I find very difficult to laugh.

The rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas is legendary, hence DNAGuy's snark and me running with it.  Don't forget the two states fought a war against each other. 

Worked with a guy from Norman that would have made similar snark about Texans coming northward.

It was just a fun, ridiculous premise.  Don't overthink it.

#10

Traffic Control / Re: Unique, Odd, or Interestin...

Last post by 74/171FAN - Today at 11:05:55 AM

On SC 122 EB in Rock Hill (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220256368359882&set=a.10220256482402733)