First there were roundabouts. Then there were the senseless left-turn lanes (Bendigo Boulevard and Main Street) and the elimination of two southbound lanes on Bendigo approaching the freeway. And now, there are extended, elongated corners. I am referring to what they have done to all four curbs at the corners of Bendigo and North Bend Way.

I have lived here more than 20 years and not once has anyone ever asked me to vote on, express an opinion on, or otherwise comment on any of those traffic rerouting changes. Who are the people that are doing this? How much is it costing the taxpayers, you and I? Finally, what good are any of these traffic pattern changes doing?

First, lets just forget roundabouts—they are done, finished and no amount of dialog will undo any of them. I do think that some education needs to be provided in which direction to go, how to yield to traffic and under what conditions you should or should not yield. I have seen several frightening things happen at those round-abouts, not the least, going the wrong way.

I have never had an answer from anyone as to why northbound Bendigo, at the intersection of Main, has a dedicated left turn lane to accommodate six homes on a cul-de-sac. Also, what good does it do to make everyone driving south on Bendigo merge right going from two lanes, before the underpass, to one lane, to two lanes at the roundabout? I’m steamed and I suspect I’m not the only one.

Now, with the lovely curb extensions at the major intersection in North Bend, Bendigo and North Bend Way, anyone trying to make a right turn must wait in one lane, and usually more than one traffic light cycle to make that right turn. So I am asking our city fathers, mayor, and anyone else who cares to answer, what good are these traffic change patterns? What is the total taxpayer cost for these modifications? And exactly who was it that came up with these ideas? Most importantly, when are they up for reelection?

For a town that is trying to promote various tourist attracting activities, North Bend has practically become the smallest town in the state to provide several avenues for traffic congestion. Maybe, we are trying to emulate our larger neighbors to the west by giving the tourist a “home-like” feeling by creating, where nothing was a problem before, the act of being tied up in traffic or sitting in a long line waiting for traffic that never moves.

I can’t wait to see what the planners have in mind for traffic patterns once a hotel is built at the bottom of the Exit 32 off-ramp. I am sure they have some new and wonderful plans for confusion and snarls just waiting to be implemented.

I am beginning to understand why the welcome sign on North Bend way looks like a tombstone. Welcome to the Dead Traffic Center of Snoqualmie Valley.

Note that not once in this tirade have I offered up a complaint about the construction that seems to be going on all over. That’s another matter altogether… and may be addressed in a later column.

• Bob Edwards is a North Bend resident and member of SnoValleyWrites! writers’ group. E-mail him at bobledwards@comcast.net.