Here's an alert for commuters who use the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. Starting tomorrow, the D.C. Department of Transportation will close some lanes for repair work.
Instead of the normal four lanes inbound and three lanes outbound during the morning rush hour, and four lanes outbound and three lanes inbound in the evening rush hour, the city will create three lanes inbound and two outbound at all times.
That means outbound commuters in the evening will have to get by with only half the lanes they normally use. Considering that the bridge is congested in the best of times, this work promises to create havoc unless commuters find a different bridge or take mass transit to work.
Dr. Gridlock mentioned to the DDOT spokesman, Bill Rice, that there are huge and deep potholes on the outbound lanes of the bridge. "Those aren't potholes. Those are holes in the bridge," he said.
That's what the city will be fixing. The work is expected to last about six weeks.
Testing Older Drivers
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
Reader Bob Newman asked about a computer program he had heard about that assesses older driver skills (Dr. Gridlock, Feb. 24). I believe the program he refers to is AAA's "Roadwise Review: A Tool to Help Seniors Drive Safely Longer."
It's a self-paced, in-home program that tests a number of skills associated with driving, including the ability to see in low light and scan across a field of view. The measures are scientifically validated, and the program provides links to additional information.
Dennis Collins
Woodbridge
A number of readers mentioned the same program. It is a CD-ROM program that will, according to the jacket, help seniors "identify health and fitness issues that affect your driving by enabling you to check visual, mental and physical responses" and "identify steps to reduce your risk behind the wheel."
The cost is $10 for AAA members, $15 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.aaa.com.
The program pledges confidentiality. Here's another recommendation:
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
