Untwisting Highway 9

What was a nice piece of motorcycle road is being unkinked and made boring.

By Lukas Velush
Herald Writer

Cars that often slip and slide on Highway 9 north of Arlington should soon have an easier time.

The state is midway through a road-straightening project that will take the bend out of a series of curves and steep grades that have been a problem for drivers in icy conditions for decades, said Marlin Lenssen, project engineer for the state Department of Transportation.

“Just beyond Harvey Creek, the road goes up a quite steep grade through several reversing curves,” Lenssen said. “We’re trying to keep the vehicles from sliding off the road.”

The new section of road, about one mile long, runs slightly to the west of the current route, Lenssen said. The new route is straight and the grade is much smoother and more gradual.

Read the rest: HeraldNet: Highway 9 loses slick curves