Traffic commuting to the Valley (Anchorage, Wasilla: live in, activity, vehicles)

[quakinator]

I know that everyone talks a lot about the traffic into Anchorage in the morning being brutal, but how is it the other way around? I'm assuming the traffic in the morning on the northbound glenn is a lot thinner, and traffic southbound out of the valley lighter toward Anchorage in the evening than the northbound evening rush is?

I'm most likely going to have two jobs, one in Wasilla and one in Anchorage or E. River and I'll likely live in E. River/Chugiak to start out.

[JavaPhil]

Much better, but qualify that with the fact that any bad accident on the highway in any direction you drive will slow traffic to a standstill.

[akvarmit]

Hi Quake - I just posted on another thread, too.

The traffic opposite the rush hour is no big deal. I work nights and drive to Anchorage from Wasilla at 530pm - and I come north out of Anchorage at 8am. What makes the drive difficult IMHO is the poorly marked lanes, profoundly dark areas and possible iced areas. If the temperature is balmy, there is a lot of road-splash of dirt, and I have had to pull over and literally clean my headlights with glass cleaner. Some people tolerate the drive well, some I've met refuse to do it.
I will say that I drive much more defensively than I did in the lower 48 - watching out for moose, slick spots and drivers who think they're on Nascar after a few "too many" .

[Nephler]

I personally hate the drive, and do it as little as possible. I think the biggest reason for my hate is that I'm not use to this type of traffic coming from a town of about 1500. Wasilla is HUGE to me.

I do think that the drive opposite the rush would be much better, though Eagle River exits seem busy all the time.

[akvarmit]

Originally Posted by Nephler

I personally hate the drive, and do it as little as possible. I think the biggest reason for my hate is that I'm not use to this type of traffic coming from a town of about 1500. Wasilla is HUGE to me.

I do think that the drive opposite the rush would be much better, though Eagle River exits seem busy all the time.

Yeah, it's all relative to what you know. I'm used to Pittsburgh and Altoona back in PA - pretty decent mid sized cities. But one does have to remember what a large population does exist in a small space in the Anchorage area in general.....it can seem like a hive of bee activity .

[Nephler]

You're right, it is all relative to what you're use to, but damn I hate that drive. Ahh, in time I guess I'll get use to it, but I'll still do it as little as possible.

[Rance]

I don't live in the area but find the drive rather pleasant when I do make it. Kinda nice scenery once you get up within view of Pioneer Peak. I think the fog on the Knik River Bridge can be deadly. I know it was before they put in the new bridge and lights.

[Marty Van Diest]

It's just what you get used to driving in. The traffic going the opposite direction from the valley commuters isn't bad. Very few people commute from Anchorage to the valley.

The road can be very slippery at times. It is right now. I drove into Chugiak yesterday and the road looked bare but it was in fact extremely slick. Several large 4X4s were in the ditch, one on it's side.

BTW, I see more 4 bys in the ditch then small cars. I don't know why.

[quakinator]

called bick dig syndrome I think

[akvarmit]

I have seen more accidents on the highway in the last three months than I have seen in my lifetime. One, 1, Uno nights drive from Muldoon to Wasilla the wife and I counted 54 that is fifty four vehicles in the ditch or wrecked. The black ice on that highway along with the rutting is horrible. Combine the fact that they put virtually no anti-skid down makes it a death trap.

I know that has nothing to do with traffic but I feel better now