As often happens, the terrible multiple-fatal car crash on Interstate 5 on Sunday created a confusing, hours-long bottleneck for hundreds of other drivers.

The crash forced closure of the freeway's northbound lanes. Officials admit they could have done a better job with detour signage but said they were scrambling to handle the devastation at the site of the head-on collision.

One reader, who got onto the freeway northbound in Stockton – more than three hours after the crash happened – said she saw a sign warning that there was a crash a few miles ahead, but it didn't say the freeway was closed.

If it had, she could have headed to Highway 99 in Stockton. Instead she was stuck for hours before exiting at Twin Cities Road.

At least Twin Cities Road offered a straight shot to 99. Drivers closer to the crash were less lucky. They got diverted at Hood-Franklin, which quickly becomes a maze in Elk Grove. It's hard to find 99 and not easy to wend back to Interstate 5.

The CHP's Mike Bradley said they got some complaints afterward and could have coordinated better with local officials for more signage.

It's a good reason to have a GPS mapping system in your car.

New airport loop road

Another detour hassle for drivers, this one at the Sacramento International Airport's new Terminal B, recently got fixed.

If the person you wanted to pick up wasn't out at the terminal curb, you had to drive almost all the way back out to the freeway – basically to the gas station area – and then loop back.

To eliminate that annoyance, the airport folks built a shorter loop road. They had to squeeze it into a tight space, though. The turn is sharp. Take it slow, they say.

Transit guard complaint

A reader sent us pictures this week of a light-rail guard who parks his truck every morning in the best spot in the Roseville Road lot – a disabled spot – and then spends the day patrolling the lot on a bike. He has a placard in his truck, but our reader asks:

Shouldn't that spot be reserved for a disabled rider, not a guard who's able enough to ride a bike?

We called Regional Transit's operations chief Mark Lonergan. His answer: Yes. Lonergan called RT's private security company yesterday. They reported back that they directed the guard to park in a new spot, away from the boarding platforms, from now on.

Pothole patrol

If you live in unincorporated Sacramento County, it is not too late to get your favorite pothole on the list for a fill-in during county Pothole Sweeps Week.

Call (916) 875-5171, or email through www.sacdot.com. It costs the county an average of $68 to fill a pothole.

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