[GeoHiker]

One of the biggest improvements to traffic flow in Monroe would be to open up the center turn lanes that were blocked off several years ago. It's ridiculous to be required to drive half the length of town and wait at lights, pull a U turn just to reach a business south or north of Hwy2. That only adds to the general mess that is Monroe now. Secret routes? Unless you want to wander backroads. I can't see that being any faster than dealing with the traffic on 2. It's not that bad, and only for 1/2 mile. In a perfect world there would be a bypass built around all the towns from Monroe-Skykomish. I don't see that ever happening.

[Schroder]

[veronika]

I think he is talking about Ben Howard. That is the only one I can think of at the moment.

[GeoHiker]

If your goal is to take a back country road and enjoy the scenery then I suppose the Ben Howard Rd would be fine. No way it's faster. It will take you just as long driving through Monroe to reach Ben Howard as it would to go from West to East. The only time I've ever found Monroe traffic to be a bother is during the Fair in late August. I'm old enough to remember the previous bypass through Monroe before the 522 was extended about 40 some years ago. My mom was a big gardener, so she always enjoyed the flowers that the City planted in the center median every summer. Heck I remember when I-90 used to go through downtown N. Bend, so I don't mind the slow down through the towns on Hwy 2. Slow down and enjoy the ride for a change.

[Slugman]

You can drive through Monroe any Sunday you like with no back-ups at all. Just don't get there until at least 10 pm. Problem solved. I always like to stay out late, especially on day hikes where I'm trying to maximize my time outside. Even on three day BP trips, I don't like to get back to the car before dark, and sometimes well after. I guess that won't work very well when darkness starts at 5 pm.

[tmatlack]

All,

[Snow_Knot]

156 days since the last serious accident on SR 2

[Snow_Knot]

187 days was the last time I looked... May have reset this weekend.

[tmatlack]

Yep. Saturday, Feb. 19th, was 000001 days without a crash. Yea. Tom

[KillerCharlie]

That sign is total BS anyways. I used to drive to Monroe most days of the week and remember when they first put the sign up. At one point it got up to "40 days without a serious accident." The next day, within a couple hundred feet of the sign, there was shattered glass and car bits everywhere. The sign read "0 days without a serious accident." The day after that, the sign suddenly read "41 days without a serious accident." What exactly is a serious accident?

[GeoHiker]

I wonder how many thousands of $$$ went into those signs? I remember as a kid traveling US2 and seeing the white crosses put up where there was a death. Made much more of an impression and a heck of a lot cheaper. I'd like to know how they determine a "serious" accident too. I've seen some bad ones and heard enough on my radio and noticed the numbers don't go back to zero. Maybe it's when ever some one gets around to it.....

[Malachai Constant]

If they left all the crosses up it would look like Omaha Beach pretty soon, sad but true

[Layback]

[Snow_Knot]

[Layback]

Apparently they measure things in dog years w/ regards to that sign because I just drove past it and it's back to 194. WTF???