Letter: Help with traffic after wrecks

As one of the thousands of commuters who traverse the bridge to Hilton Head Island ,every day, I’ve learned that an accident on it or near it can create an unexpected delay — sometimes, literally, for hours. Having lived in the Chicago, St. Louis and the Milwaukee areas, I’m no stranger to heavy traffic and unforeseen traffic setbacks. What does surprise me here is the traffic mayhem that ensues with even the slightest of fender benders.

After sitting in traffic for almost an hour and a half recently, I wondered if some sort of intervention by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (directing traffic, perhaps?) might have eased the congestion. Other areas of the country utilize law enforcement to create order and improve traffic flow after an accident. I’ve never seen that occur in the five years I’ve lived here.

I realize the volume of traffic right now is heavier than normal, which, in addition to an accident, contributed to my 90-minute trek from Hilton Head to Bluffton. But even prior to the hurricane, an accident — even a minor one moved to the side of the road — guaranteed a frustratingly prolonged commute.

Since an alternate way on or off the island will not be realized in my working/commuting lifetime, can we get law enforcement involved and figure out a way to ease the traffic congestion after an accident?

This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 10:05 AM with the headline "Letter: Help with traffic after wrecks."