Friday, November 14, 2008

Preview: Interchange Art

Periodically, I decide to visit the WalMart or Safeway at the north side of town, which means a trip the long way on the little Toonerville Trolley busline. Only $1, one buck, so the time is worth it. Besides, I get to review the progress of the fancy new interchange where SR69 meets SR89. Yesterday, I caught a glimpse of a great circle or, to be more precise, portion of a great circle.

As we drew closer, the scratches I had noted turned into the beginnings of a piece of the highway art mentioned recently in the Courier. And, as we rushed under the overpass, I spied other bits of art embedded in the concrete; unfortunately, we were moving too fast to get pictures. My passenger side, of course, admires art work that can been seen from a vehicle; my worrywart side, however, wonders about the safety posed by one more distraction for drivers already busy texting messages or shouting at their talk radio maestros.

While we're out at the interchange, let's consider that beautiful, wide sidewalk on the south side of the highway between the gas station and the first entrance to the mall heading east from Prescott. Questions, such as: is this short strip the entirety of the walkway? There's no room for an extension along the overpass next to the veterans' cemetery. Does it go anywhere? From anywhere? Love to get the answers.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sure can be a distraction to a driver. Kind of dumb if you ask me, though it may look nice.

Anonymous said...

The sidewalk maybe Prescott's version of Alaska'S Highway to nowhere!

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to seeing the completed art.

Granny J said...

steve -- welcome back! Maybe drivers are more focused than we suspect.I recall that I saw a piece of highway art at an underpass on the highway into Anchorage (a salmon, natch) that my dotter had missed after living there for a year.

style -- reminds me of those isolated patches of pavement on the Waggoner Road.

Dagny -- me too

Anonymous said...

Are the overpass murals being designed by Yavapai-Prescott tribal members?

~Anon in AV.

Granny J said...

anon av -- don't know the answer to that one. I'll have to do some research, unless a reader out there can help out.

Granny J said...

Hokay, here's the hot poop from the Courier. The tribe was consulted on the art, but there's no indication of the actual artist(s). I'm add this URL to the post as well.

Anonymous said...

"Hot poop", a yes, spoken like a true journalist! You! LOL

~Anon in AV.

Granny J said...

anon av -- I think what that phrase really does is date me.
PS -- add an "ing" to the "add" above; I was also an editor

 
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