Column: Paving projects cause delays, but bad roads are worse

Sep. 21—Our long paving nightmare is almost over.

Well, I think it is. One can never be certain with road projects.

For the past six weeks or so, Whiskey Road has been on the receiving end of a much-needed paving improvement.

This follows recent road projects around the county, including Hitchcock Parkway and the East Pine Log Road corridor.

Work began in early August on Whiskey Road. As someone who travels multiple times per day on that north-south corridor, I think they've done a great job overall.

There were plenty of days when I got caught up in the delays when workers had to make it a one-way road. I'm sure my words were not fit for print on those occasions.

Two things stood out to me about the Whiskey Road improvements:

The Aiken Department of Public Safety posted a message on X about the new merge rules. Now near the intersection with Brandy Road, there is a sign that shows traffic needs to merge right. "Slow down & use caution to merge safely," ADPS said in the post.

Sadly, that's a big change and not everyone is paying attention. I still see vehicles get over left in anticipation to merge, then they have to go back to the right. For years, too many drivers played a game of "chicken" in that area as they jockeyed to get ahead of other vehicles. Hopefully, they had to stop at the next light.

If it was up to me, I might put one of those big electronic signs — the kind they use on the interstate — to warn folks about the upcoming merge situation.

Kind of like the one I'd put up near Rond Point to warn folks of the fragile brick wall on the curve. I'm sure those types of signs would go over like a fly in a bowl of soup.

But I digress.

The other day I took a detour near the Aiken County Historical Museum to avoid Whiskey Road. There were several potholes and areas that could use some work. And on a different day, I had to take one of the dirt roads in the equestrian district to avoid a logjam.

A sizable pothole is on the corner of my street, and if I don't remember to avoid it, my truck will bounce around a good bit. I'm sure everyone has a similar story.

I guess making improvements to our roads is a never-ending process. I remember traveling to Columbia or Atlanta in my younger days, and there always was road construction. That still holds true today.

But it beats the alternative. We could live somewhere that doesn't keep up its roads. I'll try to keep that in mind the next time I get frustrated with a delay caused by road improvements.

Thanks for reading.