driving through the 110 fwy tunnels north of downtown a few days ago, I was about to engage in the standard battle of "those who stay in the left lane "vs" those who race to the 5 offramp and cut off 'those who stay in the left lane'"... and I noticed that there's something new in the first two tunnels. mounted to the roof of the tunnels, running the length of the tunnels, is some kind of device directly above the line dividing the left lane from the 2nd lane.
what is it?
Even though this set of tunnels is not maintained by the City any longer (as are the Seven Tunnels of LA), this new structure was Intriguing to us, too. So, after some research and too much driving on the 110 north, the answer revealed itself: new lighting.
The new structures the run the length of the tunnels are new lighting so that the drastic changes from light to dark that can cause accidents are removed. (Roadway experts will tell you that the shift from light to dark like happens in the tunnels can cause visibility and perception issues.) Thanks to Caltrans, the series of tunnels will be safer for that "standard battle" of when to merge to the 5 North.
The lights aren't fully installed yet, but they will be; and those tunnels will be safer for it.
6 comments:
i've been wondering about those. I saw part of them on one night and they are very very bright. But I wish they could have been integrated into the tunnels better. They seriously look like construction scaffolding of some kind.
thanks for answering my question!
Thanks for the info. I had thought maybe they were some sort of structural reinforcement gizmos.
This is a Caltrans projects, the structures will support new lighting. Nice and historic, huh? The State Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO) didn't even want to look at this project even though the tunnels are part of the Arroyo Seco Parkway's Scenic Byway designation. So much for the graceful arch of the tunnels.
Caltrans also has a sign project in the works that would disrupt the view of three of the tunnels facades. So far that project, approved by SHPO, has been delayed.
I'll add some additional info later.
Too funny, I was just explaining the stand in line vs cutting in problem with an out of town visitor. I have come to the compromise conclusion that cutting in is fine as long as no one has to slow down to accommodate you, but if you have to slow down in the on-going traffic lane, then you are the lowest form of life.
Now if they can only do something about the bad drivers on the parkway.
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