It has been like that for quite some time, Finn. The widening projects on the western side of the beltline seem to drag on for years.

I remember when I-440 was just two lanes in each direction with a wide grass median. It felt much safer then, and you could actually see the trees. Now they are cramming as many lanes as possible between those concrete walls, and there is no room for error.

Those concrete barriers are a nightmare for average drivers. The contractors love them because it keeps their work zone safe, but it gives you zero room if someone drifts into your lane.

If you clip one of those barriers, you are looking at thousands of dollars in body shop bills. I always stay in the middle lane through that stretch and let the aggressive drivers speed past on the left.

The glare off those barriers during a summer afternoon storm is terrible. You cannot see the yellow lines when the water starts pooling. I almost hit a stray ladder in the middle lane near Glenwood last month.

The real danger there is the poor drainage design during the construction phases. Because they have those temporary barriers up, the normal highway runoff is blocked.

The water cannot sheet off the road properly, so it pools in the low spots of the lanes. If your tires are even slightly worn, you will hydroplane. Always check your tire tread depth before driving on the beltline during our summer storms.

Wow, thank you all for the warnings. I am glad it was not just my imagination. I will definitely check my tires and maybe take the side roads through Dorothea Dix Park next time to keep my stress levels down.