----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>

 If a trucker were to have
> brake fade on that grade, both he and and the townspeople would be in
> big trouble.
>
> To reduce the hazard, the highway department constructed an emergency
> truck stopping lane on the right side of the downhill grade. It was made
> of sand and soft earth all the way down the  hill to slow runaway
> trucks

Here in the Pacific NorthWest, we call them "Runaway truck ramps".  They're
spurs off the hiway, pits actually, with three feet or so of gravel to cause
sudden deceleration when a trucker points his rig at it.  (Pardon my scoff,
but *ALABAMA* ???? )

Here in the Pacific NorthWest, we have *really* steep grades.  "How steep?",
you ask.  Well, here in the Pacific NorthWest, our runaway truck ramps have
runaway truck ramps !

I always blows me away when I read "Runaway Truck Ramp 3.5 miles".  Oh
great, only fifty-seven more 35 mph turns to go before I can slow down from
75 !!!

Peace.

Tom S.