A Press Democrat Blog

Road Warrior

Trying to make sense out of getting around

Sound Off: Readers’ gripes and comments

Friday, at 7:09 by

Here are a few thoughts from Road Warrior readers: A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION Now that the Spring is here and people are out buying plants for the yards, perhaps you could help me understand a dangerous intersection. People turning from Highway 12 to Calistoga Road and in the left left-turn lane sometimes then turn left into the nursery just when you turn on Calistoga Road immediately. Of course, this is a complete surprise to the drivers behind them and probably an… Read More »

Mailbag: Missing speed limit. Traffic cams. 12/121 flooding

Friday, at 8:10 by

Here’s a question from a reader: Redwood Drive is the frontage road west of Highway 101 in Rohnert Park.  If you head north onto Redwood Drive from Business Park Drive, next to The Press Democrat facility, there is not a speed limit sign until just before Wilfred.  There used to be a sign previous to the 101 construction, but it has gone missing for a year or more. This has affected some of our industrial park customers since the police… Read More »

Mailbag: Can you use carpool lane to get around an accident? And more…

Friday, at 6:00 by

Here’s a question from a reader: If there is an accident in the “slow” lane during commute hours, can you use the carpool lane to avoid the accident? Can the CHP ticket you for this? This scenario recently happened on the Cotati Grade, it was a major accident. Sue The answer comes from CHP Officer Jon Sloat, spokesman for the Sonoma County office: You can use the carpool lane if directed by a few ways: An officer at the scene,… Read More »

Mailbag: CHP using radar on the onramp?

Saturday, at 10:14 by

Here’s a question from a reader: We have noticed several times that the CHP is using radar on the onramp from Hwy 12 westbound onto 101. We are confused. I was instructed that when getting on a freeway you are to quickly get up to speed to match the traffic you will be merging with. Why would the CHP be using radar on the onramp. Are they giving tickets for going to fast? It is a very sharp turn and… Read More »

Big changes for Highways 12-121 intersection / see photo

Thursday, at 5:27 by

Caltrans this week began construction work on reconfiguring the intersection of Highways 12 and 121 south of Sonoma, putting a traffic light there and changing the habits of many drivers. The project, which is costing $2.4 million for the construction, will realign Highway 12 and cause it to meet Highway 121 in a T-intersection. Now, the two highways meet at an angle. Just to the northeast of the Highway 12 intersection, Fremont Road intersects with 121. Many, if not nearly… Read More »

Highway 121 down to one lane

Monday, at 9:05 by

Caltrans’ road work will force one lane of Highway 121 to be closed at Highway 12 south of Sonoma every night this week. The one-way traffic control will be from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night this week, starting Monday night. The road work also will narrow the open lane, so drivers should be extra alert when going through the construction area. ————– Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter via @PDRoadWarrior

Carpooling: Not many do it in Sonoma County

Tuesday, at 8:32 by

                    With more carpool lanes being built along Highway 101 in Sonoma County, we’ve been wondering how many people carpool and use the lanes. Here are some facts and figures we’ve come across: Carpooling remains at historic lows The Census Bureau’s 2010 American Community Survey found 10.3 percent of  workers living in Sonoma County carpool. That’s 22,622 carpoolers out of 219,015 workers. The 2010 stats are lower from 2009, when 11.1… Read More »

Santa Rosa’s 25 most dangerous intersections

Monday, at 9:00 by

Here are Santa Rosa’s most dangerous intersections, based on the number of collisions at each in 2011 as reported by the Santa Rosa Police Department. Each week during the year, Santa Rosa motorcycle officers typically spend part of their day at one of these intersections, looking for traffic violators, with the idea of trying to make them safer. No. 1 Highway 12 at Mission Boulevard, with 18 collisions in 2011. In 2010, this intersection ranked second with 17 collisions. To… Read More »

Santa Rosa’s new most dangerous intersection

Sunday, at 9:07 by

  There’s a new No. 1 in Santa Rosa when it comes to being the city’s most dangerous intersection: Highway 12 at Mission Boulevard. With 18 reported collisions last year, it dethroned Stony Point Road at Sebastopol Road, which had been the city’s most collision-prone intersection for two years in a row. But last year Stony Point-Sebastopol had 8 crashes, down from 20 in 2010 and 19 in 2009. Highway 12-Mission ranked No. 2 both in 2010 with 17 collisions… Read More »

Mailbag: Are they going to repave Calistoga Road?

Saturday, at 8:59 by

A Road Warrior reader writes in: Wondering if Calistoga Road from Montecito to Highway 12 is slated for repaving in near future? Sure needs it. Mission and Middle Rincon done recently. Pat The answer comes from Peter Dodsworth of Santa Rosa’s materials engineering office. And that’s: No. “It’s not on the radar screen,” he said. But he said the city will be doing an analysis next spring to see what roads need repaving and how much money will be available… Read More »