Road is a wonderful reflection of a place

Roads are a reflection of a place, be it a city, a particular area of a city, a pocket in that area or even a block. Roads mean a lot of things. First of all it means the economic status of the residents. If you have been to the south of several cities in India, they are comparatively posh, are up market with upper-middle class or high-class gentry.

The roads lining their streets are much better in shape. They are maintained every few months especially after the rainy season is over and again sometime after a few months. They are cleaned just every day and traffic markings painted too often. The islands are kept up in right condition too, so are the metallic railings perched on the islands. You will find some horticultural touch to the islands too. They have well maintained traffic signals and have additional traffic police personnel to supervise smooth flow of the traffic.

Cut to another location which is not up market, but fairly good. You will find quite a few features as about a road in an up market area but for their so regular upkeep. Among the missing things could be the green effect created by the plants on the islands or round- about. Then cut to an ordinary middle class area. The level of upkeep plummets. Roads could be uneven. There will be more of patchwork when they are repaired, hence the unevenness. The pavements may not be clean and the road-sides could be accumulating dust which is cleaned after months together.

A lower-middle class area roads scenario will reflect accordingly. Dust welcomes you every time a vehicle passes by you. There will be streams of water flowing out of lanes and houses for want of choked drains which have not been cleaned for ages and hence could no longer be cleaned. Road repair in such pockets is an election issue and a patchwork is possible which may last as long as the campaign for the hustings.

Cut to the Indian road traffic on such roads. Its character changes with its economic identification. The traffic on Bangalore and Chennai will change as much and so will the degree of road safety in India for the latter is a function of driving conditions which in turn is subject to the road conditions.

You can drive far and wide along the nation's interstates, but eventually you will have to admit that no other state on the Eastern seaboard offers such diversity in culture and environment than Virginia. From the majestic mountains cut by the Appalachian Trail to the gentle coastline bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia boasts many natural resources and opportunities for prosperity. Anyone considering a move from the sweltering Deep South, the Great White North, or from Way Out West ought to give the commonwealth a try.

Especially, one would do well to consider a move to the Hampton Roads area. This metropolitan region spans ten independent Virginia cities over twenty towns (incorporated and unincorporated) among seven counties, plus parts of the Currituck Outer Banks of North Carolina. It may seem crowded to read about it, but the Hampton Roads area stretches over much of Virginia's coastline and attracts thousands of visitors annually. Many who come are tempted to stay, and it is no surprise why. Here are just ten reasons why you should come and stay, too.

1) Cultural Diversity

Hampton Roads is a veritable melting pot spilling into the Chesapeake Bay. Thanks to a strong military and governmental presence, people of all ethnic backgrounds call the Tidewater area home. Residents in the northern part of the region may note a large population of Mennonites, while descendents of the Nansemond tribe are congregated in the area.

Such blending of the cultures is evident in annual festivities held in Norfolk: the Azalea Festival that pays tribute to all nations represented in the area, and the AfrAm Festival which celebrates the region's African American heritage. Annual festivals, regular markets and seminars allow everyone to absorb and appreciate the diversity of the people of Hampton Roads.

2) Rich History

It is no secret that Virginia is the seat of American history, having fathered more US Presidents than any state. It is on the shores of modern day Virginia Beach where our forefathers landed, and it is in Norfolk where the might General MacArthur is laid to rest. Deep in the bay that separates the beach from Newport News is where the famous battle of the Monitor and Merrimac took place. A history enthusiast's senses are guaranteed to be overloaded here.

Of course, mention of history and Hampton Roads just would not be complete without a tip of the quill to the Jamestown Settlement, the first permanent colony established in this country! Each year thousands of visitors make the historic triangle of Jamestown, Yorktown, and Colonial Williamsburg their vacation destination. To live in Hampton Roads means one can explore these attractions all year round, particularly in the winter when the colonial homes and roads are beautifully decorated for the holidays!

Proximity to Jamestown will have its advantages in 2007, too, when the four hundredth anniversary of the founding of the colony is celebrated. The entire state of Virginia switches to party mode in that time, but Hampton Roads will host the party, and residents have a front row seat.

3) Family Fun

Why pile the kids into a car and drive all the way to Disney World, when fun and excitement are right in the backyard? The Hampton Roads area boasts one of the top amusement parks in the county: Busch Garden Europe. From early spring to late autumn, the whole family can enjoy spine-tingling roller coasters and breathtaking 3-D rides at this popular attraction. Summer offers more opportunities for fun with Water Country USA in Williamsburg and Ocean Breeze Waterpark in Virginia Beach.

For a slower pace, but not necessarily a boring one, families may take advantage of various attractions throughout the year, including the newly renovated Virginia Zoo, the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, President's Park in Williamsburg, and of course the famous Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The advantage to being a resident is that such places offer periodic discounts on admission and gifts, so if you live close by you are always in the know.

4) Great Outdoors

Think Hampton Roads is all beach? Think again! True, while it is the Oceanfront with its endless stretch of sand and sea that attracts tourists and new residents alike, Hampton Roads offers more for the outdoorsman with regards to activity. The southeastern part of Virginia represents one of the healthiest regions of the state, and it's easy to see why.

First Landing State Park of Virginia Beach is a haven for runners, mountain bikers, and nature hikers. Waller Mill Park of Williamsburg is available for the extreme biker who enjoys a rough terrain and never-ending excitement.

Nature lovers will enjoy leisurely walks at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton and False Cape State Park at the beach, both known for beautiful flora and fauna. And, if you enjoy your long walks in between shots of golf, Hampton Roads has many courses, including the Tournament Players Club at the Beach and Golden Horseshoe in Williamsburg.

5) Growing economy

Business is literally booming in Hampton Roads, offering many opportunities for small business to grow and larger businesses to take in more employers. A strong military presence helps boost regional economy, while corporations find many attractive qualities in the Tidewater region. Proximity to Washington, DC, easy shipping access, and a growing downtown establishment in the Pembroke section of Virginia Beach indicate a prosperous future for Hampton Roads.

Hampton Roads is a region of culture and comfort, offering residents fun and opportunity on land and by sea. Combined with moderate weather throughout the year and friendly locals, and one can conclude that there is no place like home than in Hampton Roads.

California is an interesting state, both unfriendly to the car and dependant on it, constantly pushing for higher MPG, lower emissions, and to remove classic cars from the roads, many automotive enthusiasts from California have sought refuge in states like Nevada, Arizona, and Texas. But today I was reminded why California is such a great place for automotive enthusiasts on a short business trip to the San Diego area to visit clients. After visiting my last shop in El Cajone I started to make my way home on Historic Highway 80, the main freeways clogged with traffic in the late afternoon, I decided to take an alternate route home. Historic Route 80 eventually works it way around to the Highway 79 north. Highway 79 is mostly a winding two lane highway, that takes you through the Cleavland National Forest, the reservations of many Native California tribes, and about million miles from the congestion and crowds that are most peoples vision of Southern California.

(Photo Mission Santa Yasbel Asistencia)

Heading North 79 merges for a short time with Highway 78 at the cross roads in Santa Ysabel 78 will take you to Julian a small mountain community known for their apple pies, and tourist attracting antique stores. Santa Ysabel Asistencia the mission for which the town is named is along on the right hand side of the highway, it was established as a outpost of the San Diego Mission in 1818 and the current chapel was built in 1924. Santa Yasbel is also a nice place to stop and grab a bit to eat and one of the cafes along the highway. Along the way you will also discover a NHRA drag strip and a Motorcross track tucked in among the Oak Trees and Farms.

(Photo Highway 79)

Leaving Santa Yasbel and the road is fairly straight, passing Highway 76 that takes you past Lake Henshaw and on to Pala Casino and Resort. A little further up the road you come to San Felipe Rd, if you have time and you like history you can visit Warner's Ranch that was once a stop on the Butterfield Stage Route, there is little there, so I recommend pushing on north on the 79. About 20 miles or so will take you to the Oak Grove Butterfield Stage Station, about 20 miles to the northwest, is the only surviving building from the stage line, and is also a National Historic Landmark. (

 

(Photo of Butterfield Stage Stop) In Warner Springs there is a small resort community with golf, a few restaurants and one of the only gas stations along the whole route. There is also a airport that specializes in glider rides and you can many times see a number of gliders floating lazily above the valley as you descend into Warner Springs. Oak Grove is about 18 miles along the route after leaving Warner Springs so if you have a need to visit the Stage Station now is your chance... I stopped to stretch and take some photos. From there the road follows the hills and is headed more west then north, towards the city of Temecula. The first signs of urban sprawl are the mini storage and track homes. It is a good place to stop and get fuel, food, and if you chicken out you can jump back on the 15 freeway and save over an two hours on the trip. Downtown Temecula is like going back in time to the old west, only with trendy shops, yuppies, and bikers everywhere. Now the I-15 is overlapped a major portion of the 79, but if you follow Old Town Front Rd north, that will turn into Jefferson Ave, from there turn Left on to Kalmia St, and then Right onto Washington Ave. Washington then turns into Palomar St and takes you through the city of Wildomar and on to Historic Lake Elsinore by sticking to the Right and on to Mission Trail.

It is hard to believe that Lake Elsinore was once the play place of Hollywood's elite stars. If you follow the lake around the street will change name several times, but just keep as close to the lake as you can until you come to Highway 74. At this point I had to get back on the I-15, however, if you are in the mood for an adventure, you can always turn Left and take the 74 (Ortega Highway) and end up at the Pacific Ocean in Dania Point. Ortega is a epic road and takes you through some amazing mountains and hills. The best part about Ortega is it drops you off on Highway 1 the Pacific Coast Highway. Turn Left San Diego and Mexico, Right Monterey and San Francisco. If only I had some vacation time, I would love to keep on driving around California's best roads.

Roads with no safety measures are prone to accidents that might cause fatal blows to those driving. Road safety products are vital to put-off the accidents that can wrap oneself in the lap of death. With the fast-changing technologies, we are seeing some innovative and high quality Armco products that have been designed to dole out fun and a sense of security while driving on busy roads, especially on highways. 

The products that are enormously bringing safety and security on roads include guardrail (Armco), wire rope safety barrier, crash cushions and guardrail terminal. Some other road safety products viz. steel buffas, workzone barriers, pedestrian fencing and motorcyclist barriers also bring effect of safety on roads. These road safety products are put to roads after getting through rigorous crash testing to fetch optimum desired results. These testing make sure that the users get well-equipped by way of the highest standard of safety barrier systems on road. Besides being put to be used on various road ways, the Armco products are also extensively employed in the world standard sports racing events. 

The Formula one race is held on the track with the ideal Armco products to stave-off dangers that might come to haunt the participants and spectators. Guardrail also features among the road safety products and produced with the top-quality steel and other materials. Guardrail boasts of extremely high resistance to impact and puts off hazardous pocketing. At the same time, their use lessens the ride down acceleration sensed by the vehicle and its users. 

The Armco products contribute heavily to accident free roads as guardrail leads the pack with a bang. Guardrail sports high visibility that brings added confidence to the driver driving with speed. At night or while driving under smoggy conditions with reducing lights of surroundings, the first-rate visibility of guardrail brings forth essence of safe travel in a true way and lessens dangerous centre line crowding. 

Armco products are specifically designed to put drivers amid the safest possible condition. Guardrail goes one step ahead in doing so and brings the maximum road safety with the help of the perfect designing. Guardrail acts amazingly well by reducing wheel snagging and the far-reaching effects of vaulting or rollover. The perfect designing of guardrail makes them the most fitting option for raised medians and gutters. Thus, we see that Armco saves life from getting stuck into any unwanted happenings on the roads. 

With technology extending its help to avert the unfortunate, it is only wise to go for the appropriate road safety products on our roads and gain sense of security with speed. 

ABYSMAL ROTTEN ROADS – A HIDDEN BLESSING

DR SUDHAKAR NATARAJAN

Next time you bump along the strategically placed pot holes on the abysmal roads at a snail’s pace, don’t curse your fate. Our lives will be much easier if we accept the situation, that is beyond the common man’s control, and take the bad roads in our stride. When I was posted here in Feb 2007, I used to fret and fume over the road conditions. My personal new car has taken a good battering due to the bad roads. As the days passed by, I became immune and got used to the bone jangling bumps and my poor car got a new gear shaft , after it broke on these so called black-top metalled roads. If you can’t change it then accept it. Bad roads also have a silver lining. Bad roads have numerous benefits and are a blessing, if this chronic malady is viewed optimistically

1) Bad roads curb overspeeding: Due to these road conditions, though your vehicle may have a fifth gear top drive option, your speed is forcibly curbed due to the road conditions. On many of the roads one can’t drive more than 15 kmph. Lack of speed prevents fatal accidents, that are so common in States having express highways. Driving is so safe here that even Scorpios and Pajeros are overtaken by people on foot. In this scenario there is zilch chance of a head-on collision.

2) Bad roads hamper overtaking: It has been statistically proved by road research scientists that 94% of accidents occur during overtaking. Since the holes on the roads are constructed so accurately, it is next to impossible to overtake. Aggressive driving and overtaking on severely scarred roads are rare.

3) Bad roads promote auto industry: Perpetual road-pox afflicted roads increase fair wear and tear of vehicles. Auto ancillary industry sales goes up due to frequent replacement of spares. The companies which manufacture shock absorbers, gear parts, alternators etc are benefited along with their poor workers and share-holders.

4) Bad roads benefit rubber industry: Tyre sales have a direct bearing on the rubber industry. Increased tyre replacement helps the rubber industry and boosts those states that have rubber farms.

5) Bad roads help Petrol Pump owners: Fuel economy of the vehicle is severely effected due to road conditions that increases fuel consumption. Your visits to the petrol pump is more frequent and this gives a boost to the economic status of the petrol pump owners and employment is generated for the petrol pump boys, who otherwise would have remained jobless.

6) Bad roads promote civil aviation: The civil aviation sector here has got a boost because the elite rarely travel by road during visits outside the state. Civil Helicopter services from Naharlagun Helipad and Civil Flights from Lilabari Airport find passengers due to this.

7) Bad roads prevent Road-Rage: The road condition here makes the drivers more patient and docile. I feel the drivers here take things with more equanimity and poise as compared to those states having smooth roads. Bad roads enhance a rarely seen esprit-de-corps amongst the drivers and increase empathy.

Bad roads boost detergent industry: The common man who walks on roads without footpaths, returns home mud splattered due to vehicles splashing mud water that collects on the numerous pot holes. This benefits the soap and detergent industry since clothes have to be washed more frequently.

Mosquitoes are also quite happy since they can multiply in the water that collects in the potholes and this gives employment to the mosquito- repellent industry and the malarial drug industry.

Therefore the moral of the story is to make the best out of the bad bargain. Find blessings in adversities. Road will not effect our moods. We are made of tougher stuff. Enjoy life.

The writer is a Deputy Commandant in Indo Tibetan Border Police

Countries have to think of good roads as the best infrastructure.

Developed countries of the world realized this long ago and paved good roads all over.

As a result, transportation increased and movement of goods and people from one place to another was possible.

Settlement of people came on either side of those roads.

Developing countries, by looking at those developments started thinking about the good roads for their own economic developments.

Bad roads are there everywhere, paved or unpaved.

Pot holes, speed breakers, damages in patches, narrow ones are the status of roads in many developing countries including India.

Allotment of budget for this vital sector is thought of only recently to link north to south and east to west of India.

Huge amount of money is required to make the already existing narrow roads to four lane ones.

Mostly the World Bank loans are availed for this purpose.

Highways / Motorways have to be improved to the level of the ones we find in developed nations.

They are going to be the life line of a nation.

Good roads have to be maintained frequently to give a better service to the users.

Bad roads cause fatal road accidents very often.

The traffic police take lots of measures to prevent road accidents.

If the roads are bad, they will be helpless to implement those measures.

Effective steps have to be taken to lay good roads with signboards and proper lighting.

Design engineers are responsible for laying good roads for the country.

The system of construction through corrupt practice makes the proposal for preparing good roads, a mediocre one.

Within a short period after the construction, the roads become unusable, and such is the situation in most regions.

There are experienced construction companies in India who lay very good road ways in other countries, but they are generally ignored by the politicians in countries like India.

They can not get their required commission from such reputed companies.

Therefore, the development is poor and our progress in road infrastructure is retarded to a considerable extent.

India being one of the important growing giants in the world, certainly needs good roads throughout the length and breadth of the country.

Four thousand years ago the ancient cities of Mesopotamia was paved with stone.

That was the first man-made roads.

Later, Roman roads formed the most extensive network in Europe and Middle East.

The motorways of the 20th century are built on a firm, thick base of pebbly material with a layer of concrete laid over top.

Above this is a layer of tar or rolled asphalt.

Rubberized roads are also coming up in certain regions in India.

Even plastic wastes are also mixed with tar and applied on the top of the road.

Innovative road building techniques are invented and applied wherever possible.

A country which managed with single lane roads for sixty long years after independence realize today the necessity of this important infrastructure on which many other developments depend.

National highways connecting various States help in interstate business, transportation of goods and people.

Everyone feels that it the need of the day.

India is moving towards the dream to become a developed nation by 2020.

Therefore, we can not wait for making good roads.

While making good roads, there are many hurdles the country has to face.

Towns and cities have to be connected by roads of short distances.

So the interfering structures have to be removed or demolished.

Sometimes rivers have to be crossed, so bridges have to be constructed.

The engineering technologies have improved so much that constructing various kinds of bridges is possible nowadays.

Wide roads were made in town and cities, but the paved roads are only half the width of the planned roads.

Avenue trees occupy some area on either side of the road.

Similarly the electric and telephone poles also take away some space.

Unauthorized constructions like projection of roof structures by the shops on either side steal away some space.

As a result we will be left with a narrow road in the cities for the vehicles to pass by.

It is really sad to see such bad roads in many parts of India.

Every time the local administration tries to remove the unauthorized occupations, there will be resistance from the public who are affected.

They go the extent of filing a case against the administration in the court and stay the work.

We know the court takes its own time to clear such cases.

Another set of people who get the voles of these people, also support them and will not allow the administration to do its work.

Thus the road remains as it was.

We have seen many times such sights in every town.

In a democratic country with about 40 per cent illiterates, it becomes difficult to interfere with peoples’ proper or improper activities.

It is one of the reasons that India could not progress fast and reach the status of a developed country.

With all these limitations, India has a hope to come up in the Global level as a developed nation with good roads in the near future.

Roads in Nigeria have truly become what we now refer to as death traps, which cause that typical vehicular and human traffic jam, the type you have never heard or seen all your life. The situation described here is worst in Lagos, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt, Onitsha (Head-Bridge) and Benin City. You can expect much more intense traffic jam even along high-ways, especially the now infamous Benin-Ore Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway etc, anyone who for satisfaction of his curiosity can drive around and take a look at what the people of the country call “Go-slow.” It is this word Go-slow that this article will use to describe this situation.

These Go-slow may sometimes be artificial with no visible cause in sight. You arrested by this hold-up for several hours, sweating and instantly removes your jacket, instead you receive stuffy air much to your discomfort, and as you manage to gradually drive to the beginning of it all, while hoping to find that large object which has blocked the entire road, you discover nothing much to your amazement except maybe a pot-hole. You suddenly discover yourself join others in swearing and cursing which in the end yields, only for you to become hooked up in another Go-slow some few metres away from the previous scene.   

Once I was in a commercial bus, driving from Festac Town across the Festac-Amuwo link bridge, after experiencing a stand still for several hours on this road, it was time to drive on, suddenly we noticed that a particular private bus did not make moves like other vehicles now jostling like the heavens was open for self-acclaimed righteous to enter but there was a much more difficult snag, the private bus driver was not driving, surprisingly, the man was noticed resting his head on the steering of bus, while other vehicles maneuvered their ways out of his stationary position and as usually, tongues began to wag, was he dead or strangely had slept off? As it is typical of Nigerians, other passengers began to pray for him, though no one attempted to come down and verify what the problem was with him.

We can at best qualify the kind of Go-slow we find in Lagos as “made in heaven” this kind of Go-slow is not found in anywhere else, in fact, Lagos is the king of Go-slow. Every single available road in Lagos appears to be designed with Go-slow as its major target. No journey which requires plying the Lagos road would take you less than one hour, no matter how short you may consider it. Interestingly, the people of the State plan their daily routine, which requires plying the roads with Go-slow. The more usual excuse to tender upon late arrival to work is go-slow, just mention it and your Boss will readily agree with you, or will narrate his terrible experience to you.

Rather than expand these roads to accommodate more vehicles and allow free flow of vehicles, the Lagos State Government demarcated and further reserved a portion of the road which it named BRT routes, this is a fine idea, but with this portion of usually narrow and congested roads reserved for Lagos Government Buses, the implication is the rest of the other vehicles struggle to utilize what is left for them.

One major reasons the Lagos roads has become home of Go-slow is abandonment by the federal government, the Nigerian Government rather than consider the once capital of the federation as its maintenance priority, the federal government considers all affairs having to do with the State as a matter for the people of the State, yet Lagos State continues to host, accommodate and shelter politicians and their families. Lagos can pass as a State in the country where every politician of high profile have one form of business or the other, yet it State which is the commercial nerve of the country is deliberately stagnated in oblivion.

The long stretch of road, the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, an international route which links the country with Republic of Benin is the worst route anyone can ply. From Mile II down to Okokomaiko, your troubles begin, this narrow road is never free, and most parts of the roads have been taken over by humans who trade. It has been suggested that the best period to ply the route is before 5.00am when you assume every other person still sleeping. Suddenly we heard there were plans to expand the road; suddenly nothing is heard again from the federal government.

Generally, Nigerian roads require urgent attentions, now that Christmas is at hand when we expect quite a lot of persons to travel to their hometowns for the holiday, Nigerians are panicking because they are aware of the level of inconveniences they will encounter on our roads as vehicles are sometimes seen alternatively moving from the road and plying farmlands in villages to beat Go-slow. Benin City has also emerged as one Go-slow den that drivers must avoid if they are to at least arrive home at a reasonable time rather than kill their time in stationary traffic jams. It beats our imagination that the State Government has still not found solutions to this traffic jam problems in the ancient city of Benin.

We know that our government cannot suddenly and magically supply solutions to the road needs in the country especially now that Christmas is at hand but they can do a lot to better the lives of the people who pay taxes, and are naturally entitled to living good lives like their counterparts in other parts of the world, it is for this reason that we call on the various governments of the States of the federation and the federal government to urgently arrest the bad situation of roads in the country to reduce the number of deaths and maiming that occur on our roads as a result of motor accidents by reconstructing, re-planning and  expanding these roads.

We have also noticed that in other countries of the world the Police do not stand in the middle of the road while performing their functions, rather these officers are well positioned by road sides where they quietly discharge their duties with the traffic flow unhindered. Street traders have also occupied more than half of our roads, with the remaining half left for vehicles. This must be discouraged. Most times, I wonder why our government cannot procure and manage traffic control lights like it is done in other countries of the world, if this is provided with the Police quietly monitoring the situation, a lot of stress will be saved the traffic warders who must be relaxed while performing their road duties. Until we stick to these, we shall continue to entertain panics before and when on the Nigerian roads. Pray against hypertension.        

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