tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11762382.post7904978972913889528..comments2023-10-24T08:13:45.842-06:00Comments on Only in New Mexico: It is ComingJim Bacahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14019944863771287149noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11762382.post-18888572005100462692013-03-11T12:25:41.789-06:002013-03-11T12:25:41.789-06:00Transportation is one of a couple of sectors in th...Transportation is one of a couple of sectors in the NM economy in which employment has declined over the past year. Information technology is another.<br /><br />http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.nm.htm<br /><br />But as you say that's about to change. Where's the Journal on this? And the unions?<br /><br /><br /><br />They could create some jobs if they finished paving the highways. It might seem like a little thing but when they resurface roads here they've taken to only extending the final, or top, layer of blacktop to just outside the white line. In other words, they put one layer of blacktop from shoulder to shoulder then another one that just extends the width of the travel lanes.<br /><br />If you stray over the white line you go over a drop-off. In a semi, at least, the edge of the blacktop catches your tires and jerks you toward the ditch. When you steer back to get back up on the higher pavement it jerks you even harder and makes you want to fishtail. If the roads are icy that's especially treacherous.<br /><br />I was coming over the divide a few weeks ago on I-40 and the roadway was covered with snow and you couldn't see where the white line was. I got over that ledge and had a time of it keeping it going straight. I grew up in Michigan, but a lot of drivers have hardly ever experienced situations like that and those are the ones you see jack-knifed and turned over in the median.<br /><br />If you drive 10 or 12 hours you're going to drift over the white line a couple of times. Steering, especially in cars, is usually set to pull a little to the right to prevent head-ons when you're not paying attention.<br /><br />I suppose this has saved the state millions of dollars but it's created a dangerous situation. I took a picture the other day and I'm going to put it on my web log.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com