highway robbery

I live outside the twin cities of Pixley and Hooterville, more commonly known as Conyngham and Sybertsville. There's one main state artery going through the area that connects the 2 major highways and a number of towns. This road is a 2-lane blacktop with one traffic light before you get to one of the major highways. The main shopping area is on one side of the road, which contains almost every convenience modern life requires. The other side of the road has gas stations, restaurants, medical offices, and other tertiary businesses. Access to these businesses is easy. To make a left, you simply hug the yellow line and wait for an opening. The impatient drivers behind can always pass on the right, and with few exceptions, there has never been a long wait. It's been this way for many years without incident. Until now...

PennDOT, in its infinite wisdom, decided it was time to fix this problem by enacting a 3-year program of installing a drainage system on both sides of the road, followed by expanding the two lanes to three, installing 2 traffic lights, and forcing everyone to take up to half an hour to go 2 miles. And this construction phase will take up to 3 years to complete. I asked why we need 2 traffic lights, and the only reason I got was for the sole purpose of slowing down traffic. Slow down traffic? For what??? After 9pm you can count about 20 cars an hour using this road. You can also count on sitting at red lights with no traffic in sight until your light turns green, in which case, the opposing traffic can sit through a few lights 'cause sure as shit they won't be flashing yellow. And THIS is progress?

This is an agricultural community, with workers ranging from construction to top-level executives. Most farmers in this area refuse to sell their land to developers, so house construction is at a statewide low and the population has remained fairly constant. Highway accidents are far below the state average, and the old highway drainage system worked perfectly, even during the worst floods.
Aside from that, there are at least 2 dead ends in the area as a result of closed bridges, which makes getting around the construction area all but impossible.

So, why the fuck is this bullshit going on?!?

I'll tell ya why. Because our esteemed Gov. Rendell is a jerk. First, he cuts PennDOT's budget and sends the snow plows to take care of Philly first, resulting in highways across the state coming to a complete standstill. Then he wants to make I-80 a toll road, further screwing the people who voted this asshole in. If he can't afford to plow the highways how can he afford to spend millions on stupid projects that only result in businesses losing revenue, and every driver entering this valley waiting for a half hour to go 2 miles? PennDOT doesn't even use its own guys to wave the flag. They got a subcontractor at a higher cost to do that job. Anything to get less bang for the buck, right?

I have a solution to this madness.

I propose we all get together and buy the section of road right in front of the governor's mansion and set up a road crew to make potholes with jackhammers running day and night. We can all take part by working a few hours a year standing in the guv's driveway holding a flag and making him sit for a few hours as we go on extended coffee break.