[californiadisasters] CHP Prevents Traffic Disaster: Surviving Idiots Complain

Motorists criticize weather-related closure of the 5 Freeway in the Grapevine

The CHP says the section of the roadway had to be closed Sunday because of dangerous conditions. But some travelers are not convinced.

By Sam Allen, Los Angeles Times

January 5, 2011

Should the Grapevine have been closed for nearly 24 hours because of a snowstorm?

That was a question some motorists stranded by the closure of California's main north-south artery were asking Monday. The storm brought inches — rather than feet — of snow to Interstate 5. Several motorists noted that the scene seemed tame compared to last month's blizzard that snowed under streets in New York and the Northeast.

"In other parts of the country, this is nothing," said Todd Anderson, who was delayed on his way home to Shaver Lake and spent Sunday night at a roadside inn in Castaic. "I know if they would just let me up, I could make it through easy."

But the California Highway Patrol on Tuesday strongly defended its decision to cut traffic off, saying that the icy road surface, steep grade of the Tejon Pass and heavy post-holiday traffic volume made the Grapevine simply too dangerous to navigate.

"It's not a decision we like to make," CHP Officer Patrick Etchebarne said. "The thinking is let's close it now before it gets really, really bad. If you don't, you're going to have a nightmare."

Etchebarne said that closures on the Grapevine and other mountain roads are designed to prevent a worst-case scenario, and that they generally are based more on road conditions than the experience level of individual drivers.

Most vehicles can traverse the steep inclines even in snowy conditions if they maintain a steady speed, he said. However, if an accident forces traffic to slow or come to a complete stop, and snow continues to fall, hundreds of vehicles can become stalled at once. The Tejon Pass is particularly vulnerable because of its steep hills and the number of big-rigs that travel on it, Etchebarne said.

In December 2008, the CHP waited too long to close the interstate and faced that exact scenario, Etchebarne said. Hundreds of drivers had to be rescued after their cars became stranded, and the American Red Cross was called to the scene.

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View entire article here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-grapevine-20110105,0,5999310.story

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