In the event you put them away over the winter, it’s clearly time to get out our patient pants (or shorts, given this week’s temperatures).
Spring is hitting with a bang — we’re experiencing record temperatures and low snowpack, prescribed burns are planned for the area, the second full season of the U.S. 160 reconstruction project is underway, and more.
Hopefully the record temperatures will give way to more seasonal temps soon and moisture will find its way to Pagosa Country, but, in the meantime, we encourage everyone to take precautions to help ensure our dry conditions don’t give way to fires like other areas are experiencing.
We also need to remember the purpose of the prescribed burns. Smoke from fires isn’t fun or pretty, but we thoroughly appreciate the efforts consistently taken throughout the area to keep it in good shape and more manageable in the event a fire begins. We will take the necessary precautions while the smoke is in the air this spring, hoping it means less will be in the air this summer and fall.
A little short-term discomfort can pay off big when fire hits — something we learned firsthand last year.
We also need to continue to be patient with the ongoing road construction, knowing the end is in sight and remembering the investment being made in our community (and the fact that concrete should be less susceptible to potholes). Not having to dodge potholes while driving through the downtown will be absolutely lovely.
Already this construction season, which only began March 16, we’ve experienced honking (perhaps the drivers thought those in front of them were just sitting in a line of traffic for giggles and would suddenly be able to move after hearing a honk), drivers cursing at students (adults cursing at children is never OK in our book), drivers trying to cut around stopped cars and more.
Acting and driving like a fool is unlikely to get you where you’re going any quicker. We’re pretty sure it’s more likely to do the opposite, and it might even earn you a personal meet and greet with an area law enforcement officer and a ticket.
Admittedly, we don’t love dealing with backed-up traffic, but we realize we were warned and have had time to plan and allow enough time to take alternate routes.
Does that make it fun or all better? Nope. But, we know the project team is working diligently to do a good job on the project and to finish it in a timely manner, and we will continue to work to be as patient as we can and plan for what we can to make it less frustrating for ourselves.
We’ll also continue to make an effort to support our local businesses who are affected by the construction and changes in tourism. We hope you’ll join us in that effort.
We also encourage drivers to remember that the detours often go through someone’s neighborhood. Follow the speed limit and be respectful of the fact you’re passing through where people live and children play.
As we have done throughout the project, The SUN will include information on current and upcoming work on the project to help you understand and plan around what’s happening. This appears on page A3 weekly.
Like was the case last year, supporting each other throughout this project will be critical to successfully weathering it.
Randi Pierce
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