Is there a better way on road care?

A recent road trip from the Corridor to my hometown of Syracuse, N.Y. made me ask myself, 'Why can't we do this in Iowa?”

It was late Thursday, Nov. 16. Traveling east on the New York State Thruway, I drove into a horrible snowstorm. Visibility varied from 50 to 100 feet. I cut my speed to 35 mph and less. I used the roadside rumble strips to find my lane. Illuminated snow flying at the windshield was perilously hypnotic. A 2-hour drive became a harrowing 4 1/2-hour, white-knuckle ordeal.

The next morning I awoke to eight inches of snow on my car in the hotel parking lot. Syracuse had gotten just under 11 inches overnight, yet the parking lot was clear. As I took to the streets, they were clear. The Thruway was clear - wet, but clear. The City of Syracuse issued an apology for not having been able to clear all residential streets for the morning commute.

Overnight, almost 11 inches. By morning, virtually gone. That, folks, is taking care of roads.

Perhaps you also might ask yourself, 'Why can't we do this in Iowa?”

David M. LaRonde

Cedar Rapids