Traffic follies...

[herveus]

Yesterday's drive home involved several extended chats with Bob Marbourg.

I take the outer loop toward the Wilson Bridge to go home. The first call ensued after I spotted the brake lights just in time to bail at Eisenhower Avenue. When he answered, I began with "Wilson Bridge, outer loop --" but didn't get a chance to continue before Bob cut in with an urgent "Where are you now?" When I answered "Eisenhower Avenue looking at the beltway" he expressed relief. He recognizes my voice and knows my normal route, and he was concerned that I not get caught in the building mess -- a mess he was still gathering data on. There were several pauses while he listened to the Alexandria Fire Chief on the scanner. By the time we had extracted what value we could from that conversation, I was getting on the beltway at Telegraph Road. I could see a fire truck in the construction zone that was on some sort of a mission, perhaps related to the mention of a medevac. We ended the call.

He gives his traffic report and mentions the truck he could see in the cameras and that I had eyeballs on. As he reports, the truck heads back toward the bridge. I call back and pass that information on. The scanner listening suggested a serious injury in the construction zone -- compound fracture with burns? End of call #2.

As I get to the bridge, I see the guts of the matter, which is sufficiently visible to be causing rubbernecking delays. I call back a third time to fill Bob in on what I've been able to see, describing the scene. It turns out the first truck was looking for a suitable place for the medevac to land. There is quite the mess of overhead wires to be avoided there, but it did turn out that they did land the medevac in the work zone without having to stop traffic on the beltway.

I was particularly taken with Bob's concern for me in the first call. I've had a number of interesting conversations with him when there is space for simply chatting. He has a wicked sense of humor that doesn't leak out on the air a whole lot.

Comments

[ubiq31.livejournal.com]

Had to see where they get their traffic and map data from...looks like someone other than us for traffic. But Navteq maps, at least :)

[weatherman2111.livejournal.com]

Bob's the best. He also knows almost every inch of the area. I've called him a few times as well and he's always great on the line.

[beatrixherald.livejournal.com]

Cool I love TOP Traffic. I wish they would talk more about the college park to Montgomery Cty side of the beltway, but they are always accurate.

Every time I listen and they talk a bout a "driver reporting" I will KNOW its Herveus!

[jastaelf.livejournal.com]

I adore Bob. I have him on speed dial on my cell, because I call him damned near every time I go to the office. :)

He's my heeeeero...