Q I believe that there is a plan to correct the backup situation that exists on Yerba Buena Road with traffic having to merge with traffic off Capitol Expressway to northbound Highway 101. A ramp to 101 off Yerba Buena would be so easy to construct. Now, there is about an eight-foot wide flat area separating Yerba Buena and Capitol from the right lane of northbound 101 that can be easily crossed. I have seen cars drive over that area into the right lane of 101 when there is light traffic in that lane (and been tempted to do so myself) when backed-up by the merging traffic from Capitol.

An on-ramp from Yerba Buena to northbound 101 can't come too soon.

Al Dailey

San Jose

A I bring news that should cheer you and the thousands of others who deal with this mess every day. The Valley Transportation Authority on Thursday will approve funds to begin work on new ramps later this year. The northbound 101 ramp from Yerba Buena will be widened to two lanes and a metering light will be installed, and a ramp to north 101 from between Yerba Buena and the expressway will be built. This will allow traffic from Yerba Buena to enter the freeway before Capitol rather than merging with expressway on-ramp traffic.

In addition, the south 101 ramp to Yerba Buena will be widened to two lanes and realigned to exit directly from 101.

Bids

Q Oh God of the highways, do you have any ideas about Highway 85 by the Evelyn Avenue offramp in the Sunnyvale area? There is a drop when I drive over it. It is worst going north in the fast lane, but noticeable in all other lanes in both directions.

Pam Ashford

Los Gatos

A This is not part of the current resurfacing work under way on 85, but Caltrans hopes to fix this ramp soon.

Q There needs to be a traffic light at Fabian Way and Charleston Road in Palo Alto where we have the ingredients for a traffic meltdown each day. I work at a facility on Fabian, and I need to make that turn safely (as an ex-New Yorker, I can jump in with the best of them, but this corner is where one does not roll the dice).

That one stretch of Fabian has a community center, two schools, and at least two industry destinations (Southwall Technologies and Loral Space Systems). It may be small as measured in distance, but it is packed with places to go. Oh, and did I mention a senior residence that abuts the community center?

It really needs a traffic light. Work your magic, charm those folks who need to greenlight this (sorry, bad pun).

Roslyn Sholin

A A left-turn arrow for the eastbound Charleston movement onto northbound Fabian toward Loral Space is planned, but early next year the city will re-stripe the road to provide a dedicated left-turn lane as an interim solution.

Q I thought you'd be interested in the current condition of all the "sticks" put in the Shoreline Boulevard to Middlefield Road ramp in Mountain View to stop people on north 101 from cutting across the road to beat the backup by exiting at Shoreline then re-entering 101. I assumed they'd be knocked over almost immediately, but all of them are still standing. Many have battle scars on them so they've been hit many times, but they must be flexible or on flexible mounts.

Alan Templeton

Sunnyvale

A I was dubious that these traffic pylons would prevent this or last long, but I am glad I was wrong.

Q The Summer Olympics are here, so here's a fix of competitive action every day on our roads. Here are some of my favorite commute-time track-and-field events (as a spectator of course):

The long jump: Merging onto the highway and seeing how many cars you can leap past after your lane has officially ended.

The lateral long jump: carpoolers entering the highway with the single-minded goal of reaching the HOV lane in record time, often pushing their way through three lanes of traffic and leaping out in front of much faster carpoolers as they make the final lunge.

The 100-meter sprint: Using the commute lane to pass a road boulder. (OK, I admit I've taken Silver in this event. Sorry!)

The shot put: Low-class competitors who flick their cigarette butts out the window with gusto.

Sometimes, you just gotta' laugh to get through the commute.

Jeff Sprague

Cupertino

A Yes, you do.

Go to www.facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact Gary Richards at mrroadshow@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5335.