Seasons of Change

I think the state of Pennsylvania defies the laws of nature. You see, here we don't have the traditional four seasons - we have two: winter and construction.

We are presently in the Great Season of Construction, where seemingly every available road surface in the state is in some state of repair. The effects of this are mind-numbing.

Since Construction Season started, each day I leave work, anxious to get home, only to approach the exit gate and see traffic stalled right through the intersection. Not only are the dinks who block the intersection a major irritation, the traffic itself is insane. Usually, it's backed up farther than I can see, and for no good reason other than the major interstate in the area is down to one lane. The result of that is everyone in the area finding an alternate route of travel, which usually takes them right by my place of work. Little do they know there's more construction ahead.

Usually after braving that flood of traffic, I'm greeted by another backup - about 8 miles down the road. Same reason. The first day I encountered this mess, I was sitting in my car thinking there must be some god-awful accident up ahead. Nope. It's just the change of season, dummy. Construction is in the air, and unlike pollen, there's no quick pill to get rid of the effects.

Today, I told myself I was going to be smart about this whole traffic business and avoid it alltogether. Giggling devilishly at my cleverness, I exit a different gate at work and proceed to take "the back way" home. "The back way" consists of driving through several tiny towns, on narrow back roads lined with trees - quite pretty at this time of year. Traffic is usually sparse, and it makes for a nice drive home.

Boy, was I mistaken.

My devilish giggling turned into truck-driver cursing a couple of miles into my drive, when I see the orange construction signs and barrels lining the road ahead. I was foolish to think the long arm of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation did not reach out and touch these back roads. Bastards. I should have known better - I haven't taken this route home in quite a long time, and I was amazed to see the number of residential developments, condos, and apartments that were built in these formerly nice areas. Now it looks like suburbia has vomited all over the place. No wonder the roads need construction - keep importing people who don't want to pay the real estate prices in Philadelphia and New Jersey to this formerly nice, serene area, and of course roads will have to be widened, repaired, and rerouted to accomodate the traffic.

So what I realized was, there is absoultely no way to avoid construction between home and work! Every available route is under construction. There's no escaping it. And there's two things that irritate me more than anything. First, with gas prices as they are (I just paid almost $30 to fill my tank, and I only drive a Cavalier!!!), it pisses me off beyond reason to waste my gas either sitting forever in traffic or taking a long detour home. Second, maybe I wouldn't be so bitter if the road repairs actually made an improvement. The roads in Pennsylvania are the absolute worst. Ruts, potholes, bumps - you name it. It seems like the repairs they're doing are just "patching" a larger problem. The problem areas last year were "repaired", and they're in need of repair again this year! I hope the people who did the work didn't actually get paid for such shitty work. Maybe they don't offer a gaurantee. Personally, I'd like to make a petition that the State of Pennsylvania should give me a yearly rebate for wear and tear on my car. Soon I won't be able to afford to drive anymore!

Next month, we're driving out to Pittsburgh for my niece's graduation. I fully expect the 5 hour drive to turn into 7 or 8 hours. Maybe we should fly!!