Project slicing road in 2

Q: What is the prognosis on West Onstott Frontage Road in Yuba City, which is closed between Evans Furniture and Sizzler Restaurant? It makes it inconvenient going to and from Nu Generation Lanes.

A: We hope you're not bowled over by this answer, but that part of West Onstott Frontage Road, which parallels Highway 99 on the west, is history, according to Tom Heck, Yuba City's interim city engineer.

The new Sunsweet Boulevard, which will connect Highway 99 and Walton Avenue when it's finished next year, will slice Onstott in two.

“There will be no more Onstott,” at least in that small area. “It'll never go through again,” said Heck, who is managing the Sunsweet Boulevard project.

Unless you're getting onto Onstott from Bridge Street to the south, we don't see where the problem is. If you're coming from the north on Highway 99, take the usual turn onto Onstott near the Holiday Inn Express, then turn right at the big sign that says, “Nu Generation Plaza.”

The new configuration of streets is sure to leave an easy way to get to the bowling alley, said Heck.

Easier, probably, than getting the seven-10 split.

Q: I remember learning in high school that if you could see more than half of the vertical profile of a tire from the rear of a vehicle, the law requires that vehicle to have mud flaps to protect cars behind it. Is this indeed true and, if so, why is this law so poorly enforced here? I ask because I am tired of lifted trucks without mud flaps kicking up road sludge and rocks at me while in my car and on my bike.

A: The state's mudflap law applies to both commercial and private trucks, including lifted 4x4 pickups, said Officer Jeff Larson, spokesman for the Yuba-Sutter California Highway Patrol.

“For passenger cars and light trucks, mud flaps (splash guards) must be installed” unless the body or attachments to the vehicle prevents the spray of water or mud to the rear, said Larson, referring to the Vehicle Code.

“The mudflap law is commonly violated on trucks which have been raised, such as 4x4 trucks. In the case of a raised truck, the flaps must be increased to compensate,” he said.

Gravel trucks are frequent offenders because their mudflaps often fall off, he said.

“This (section of the Vehicle Code) is commonly enforced. As with any violation, it must be observed by and officer for a citation to be issued,” said Larson.

“I don't have statistics to show how many tickets have been written lately on this, but I can attest that quite a few tickets are issued,” he said.