It’s been a long two and one-half years … hasn’t it? I can’t even remember what’s it’s like to get off the highway at West Grant Road or West Speedway or West 22nd Street.

A fully functioning Interstate 10 seems like a dream I had a long, long time ago in a land far, far away.

The long, jammed up months of traveling on a dysfunctional I-10 are like a rerun that’s makes me groan every time I see the first scene.

I live in Picture Rocks and usually get on the freeway at Ina Road to head into town. During rush hour, the slow down happens just around West Orange Grove Road.

There is an art in determining when I should take a ride through the construction zone or jump off at West Prince Road. I listen to radio for updates and if everyone starts slowing down right when I get on the freeway, chances are there’s trouble somewhere in the zone.

Getting trapped in the zone is worse than being a rat stuck in a maze. It’s more like being a cow in a branding chute. You can’t go backward and things just get worse if you go forward.

There is always the Frontage Road but it’s usually jammed with people who really don’t want to be cattle in a branding chute. But, if there is a big slowdown caused by an accident or a broken down car—the Frontage Road is better only because you can actually get off of it eventually.

I saw the off-ramps at Grant Road and at Speedway yesterday during my trek down the highway. I saw the pavement exiting the highway in a regular off-ramp kind of way. The ramps aren’t ready and it’s awful because they look ready.

There are new signs and fresh pavement. Cement barriers are gone along a few stretches.

I’m giddy with anticipatory highway freedom. Imagine the freedom to choose from more than one exit! I long for the liberty of getting off at the exit I need instead of somewhere not even close.