Knight
Becky and I realized we had forgotten to explain the temporary route to daughter Rachel. She was driving down from Indianapolis with the grandkids for a visit. I called to talk her through it—hands-free, of course—while she was driving.
“Head south on 135 as you normally would. Keep going straight as you pass the ‘Road Closed Ahead’ sign. At the next Road Closed sign, the one that really should say ‘Seriously, the road ahead is closed,’ because you can now clearly see the road repair machinery and a wide gap where a bridge once spanned the creek. Turn right and go about a half a mile to the first time you can turn left. Then go another half mile until you come to a T-intersection. Turn right and drive one mile. Then turn left and go about a half mile. You are now back on State Roads 135/252. Proceed to our house—unless they are still paving that section of the highway. If so, call and we will suggest other country roads to use.”
Even in normal times, it is a bit of a trek to get to the business and suburban areas of what we call “civilization” from our little house in the big woods. But for the last several months, the road work around here has been intense. When I first noticed the rampant road repairs, I briefly entertained the notion that it was a plot by … someone to keep those of us in rural Indiana contained and away from the more populated areas of the state. I realized that was paranoid thinking. Besides, even if it wasn’t a plot, if “they” wanted me to stay away from civilization, I would be happy to oblige them.
But I quickly came to my senses and figured out this unceasing road work is not some nefarious plot. It’s basically much needed road repairs. And it is not just happening here in our corner of Indiana. On our recent trip to the Dakotas we observed that all around this country orange and black are this year’s hot colors, at least when it comes to road work signs. It’s a combination of forces, a perfect storm of monies coming from the feds and from the state. President Biden’s plan is called the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” while Governor Holcomb calls Indiana’s plan “Next Level Roads.” Either way, more money means more orange and black signs.
I am a taxpayer with a philosophical preference toward frugality. I’m wary and somewhat skeptical when talk turns to spending other people’s money on any and every passing idea or program that comes along.
But I am also a citizen who realizes the importance of developing and maintaining roads and bridges and related projects. Smooth roads are a blessing of modern life. But like so many good things in my life, smooth roads are a pleasure that I will eventually ignore. A new road’s quality soon becomes an expectation, and later I will grumble when the road doesn’t live up to my standards.
Well-maintained roads are a common good, and highly developed infrastructure is a necessity for any modern, thriving economy. And a modern, thriving economy is what the vast majority of people say they want.
Staying home and limiting my time on the roads during this road construction and maintenance has been a good thing for me, I think. I believe I am a typical American who has an urge to be on the move. It is hard to stay still, but when circumstances force the issue, I discover I really don’t need to go speeding off to the many places I frequent. As long as this current road building activity lasts, I am happy to stay home.
Norman Knight, a retired Clark-Pleasant Middle School teacher, writes this weekly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
