Help me make sense of the Hwy 79 construction project
Two years of delays and millions of dollars just to widen shoulders just doesn't make sense to me. That road can be a death trap and I will admit that having a shoulder to go to when someone drifts into the opposing lane is welcome. I worry it will also embolden the people who make unsafe passes. I just don't see the real benefit of wider shoulders for a portion of the highway.
I can see two scenarios where it does makes sense:
If they are adding enough room for widened shoulders then a median or center divider of some kind would be a godsend. The reason that road is so unsafe is because people drift into the other lane or make unsafe passes. A median of some kind would prevent that and be of massive benefit.
The other possibility requires me to put on my tinfoil hat. SDG&E is proposing to run a massive high voltage power line project along that route. I don't know if there is any connection at all but I think it deserves consideration at least.
I'm maybe missing something obvious. The time, delays and costs of the project don't add up to me just to put in widened shoulders for part of the highway.