Dear Mahatma: I was thinking that I heard a few years ago about a highway project to repair and widen U.S. 425 south of Hamburg to the Louisiana line. Parts of this road are like a washboard, and when it rains, if you aren't careful, you could end up in the other lane, or even in the ditch. Is there a plan for this to happen? -- Rough Rider
Dear Rough: The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has a plan to widen U.S. 425 to four lanes from the state line north to Arkansas 82, a distance of 9.5 miles. This project's cost will be in the ballpark of $38 million.
Bids to be let in October. Until bids are let and awarded, no time frame can be estimated for the job.
Vanity plate seen on a Honda in Cleburne County: BE APPY.
Dear Mahatma: When driving north on Shackleford Road and stopped underneath the Interstate 630 overpass, there is a traffic signal. It's difficult in the day to see whether the signal is green. It appears there are louvers over the signal lights. While the red light and the yellow can be seen easily during the day, the green light is not visible to the driver stopped on Shackleford. Who would be responsible for examining the traffic signal? -- Blurry
Dear Blurry: It's possible the light in question is a dim bulb. Hey, people call us that all the time. Herself says that daily, come to think of it.
Your question continues a modest trend of concerns about the section of Shackleford Road near the Big Rock interchange. It's a work in progress, with many moving parts. We alerted the local chief engineer for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. We're told he will consult with the city traffic guys.
Mr. Mahatma: I frequently see yard-service workers blowing leaves into city streets. Today I saw a grounds crew on Chenal Parkway blowing leaves from the median into Chenal Parkway. Is this legal? Where do the leaves ultimately go? --RJF
Dear RJF: It is most emphatically against the Little Rock city code to blow yard waste -- including leaves -- onto "any public or private highway or road, including any portion of the right-of-way." Same for North Little Rock. We'd lay odds most of the state's 500 or so municipalities have a similar ordinance.
Where do these leaves go? Into storm drains, which get clogged and flood.
Vanity plate seen on a Z06 Corvette: ZHAPPY. Addendum: The 2016 Z06 has 650 horsepower. The Mahatma also drives a Chevy, but with a modest 138 horsepower. It is, fortunately, extremely cute.
Dear Readers: A personal note, if such is allowed at this newspaper.
Our calculations show this is the 500th Drivetime Mahatma column. Wudda thunk it? Certainly not the fellow newspaperman who figured there were only enough questions about, and interest in, traffic for this thing to last six months. Come April, 10 years.
Mahatma@arkansasonline.com
Metro on 12/03/2016