Bye, Bye Barrels!

Necessary nuisance. Happy barrels. Targets.

Whatever you call the orange and white barrels, it seems the only place they look good is on Randy Roadbot, the mascot for Jammin' on Janesville.

Well, after months of progress reports on what's new on Janesville, it is with great pleasure that the truck toting dozens of these fixtures was captured on film. Asking the driver if he was indeed Santa Claus, he replied, "no, we're just taking these away until next year."

Close enough, in my book.

Since April, it's been construction, excavation and lane shifting, part of a three-year-long project that buried overhead utilities and widened the eastern half of about a mile-long stretch of Janesville. The departure of the orange barrels is basically the cap to the second year.

Don't get too comfortable, however. Utilities will begin to be buried between Lannon Drive and Racine Avenue next, and spring will again bring our little orange friends back.