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Holiday Weekend Commute is Light, Smooth; Sun Burns Through Fog

Posted on: Saturday, 3 June 2006, 00:00 CDT

By Lee Egerstrom, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

May 26--Freeway traffic is making a statement. The Memorial Day weekend has begun.

While early morning commuters had to contend with patches of fog in low-lying areas and along rivers and bridges around the Twin Cities, low traffic volume made for a smooth trek to work.

Most of the fog had burned off by 8 a.m.

Only a few stalls were visible on Minnesota Department of Transportation freeway cameras. None were blocking traffic lanes between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.

The first crashes of the day occurred after 8 a.m., and the only interruption of traffic flows from a blocked traffic lane came from a stalled car on Crosstown Highway 62 in Minneapolis at 8:54 a.m.

One crash occurred at 8:48 a.m. in St. Paul on Interstate 94 at St. Peter Street. Another was on the west metro edge, on Interstate 394 at General Mills Boulevard, at 8:16 a.m.

The early morning fog steamed windows on cars that were left parked outside overnight. But even that impediment to safe driving produced no early accidents on the freeways, and motorists didn't have to drive far before windows cleared.

The start of the holiday weekend was apparent on early morning commuter buses as well. Ridership was down, and some buses arrived about two minutes early in downtown St. Paul.

A beautiful and bright sun burning through the fog and supported the weather forecast of a warm and muggy Memorial Day weekend. The early fog did delay the early rays of sun and was like turning back the clock three weeks for early risers out at 5:30 a.m.

Birds were not fooled, however. Meadowlarks, red winged blackbirds, scouts for an urbanized flock of Canada geese, and birds of unrecognizable voice all contributed to the 5:30 a.m. concert that rewards people who enjoy morning hours.

Even John Henry, the handsome Rhode Island Red rooster that escaped from captivity and now resides in gardens and shrubs on the St. Paul and Maplewood border, was in full voice this morning. "Cockadoodle do, cockadoodle do. (Tr., "Don't forget me, don't forget me.")

A glorious day for walkers, riders and motorists alike.

Lee Egerstrom can be reached at legerstrom@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5437.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.)

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