Q. Hi Honk: There is a thin wire strung between several metal poles about 30 to 40 yards apart in the median of University Drive in Irvine that goes from Harvard Avenue to Culver Drive. What is that wire’s purpose?

– Brent Sandberg, Irvine

A. You likely saw part of what is called an eruv, which in Irvine runs along the side of the 405 Freeway, to University Drive, to Harvard Avenue and back up to near the freeway to create a border in the shape of perhaps a shoe.

Approved by the City Council in 2004, it is maintained by the Beth Jacob Congregation of Irvine, which is inside the border along with apartment complexes and single-family homes.

“We work closely with the city,” said Ilan Wolf, on the congregation’s board of directors, referring to a permit and the ability to hire a company to repair the line if needed.

In Irvine, 100-pound fishing line, a berm and walls create the eruv.

Inside the eruv, some people of the Jewish faith can do things that are otherwise usually forbidden on the Sabbath in public areas. For example, they can carry items or push a stroller or a wheelchair.

Eruv districts have been in place for 2,500 years. Among the communities where an eruv has been created is in Long Beach’s Bixby Knolls neighborhood.

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Q. Do you know why when going northbound on the 241 Toll Road there is a long barrier between the lanes leading to the transition to go either west or east on the 91 Freeway? You can’t switch lanes if you find that you are taking the wrong exit.

– Mike Wick, Lake Forest 

A. At certain times of the day, a lot more motorists want to go east there rather than west. So the Riverside-bound lanes – there are two for each direction – would clog up more than those depositing drivers to the west.

“Adding to the bumper-to-bumper frustration were queue jumpers – drivers who attempted to bypass the congestion by driving in the left two lanes only to cut in at the last minute,” explained Eugene Fields, a spokesman for the Transportation Corridor Agencies, which runs that toll road and is one of the entities that signed off on the improvements. “These queue-jumpers created more congestion and safety concerns. ”

In 2016, double-white lines were put on the roadway and some signs posted to encourage civil driving.

Problems still persisted.

Now, Mike, you have heard Honk say his readers are the smartest in the land, right?

Well, in 2018 and again the next year, they wrote in and suggested a barrier go up dividing the lanes – one suggested using the type of flexible poles that have been deployed for years to separate the 91 Express Lanes from the 91 Freeway. Transportation officials told Honk the first time that the poles wouldn’t fit in there, and the second time that that strategy was among various options getting explored.

Finally, in February 2022, about 800 of the poles – called “channelizers” in transportation circles – were put in to improve traffic flow and safety. They stretch for one mile. New signs and messages emblazoned in the roadway were added as well to help direct motorists into the proper lanes.

HONKIN’ FACT: Palm Springs is holding its Cruising Through the Years Classic Car Parade on Saturday, April 8, celebrating the town’s 85th birthday. There is to be a car from each of those years. The celebrity grand marshal will be Nancy Sinatra. Some might tie her fame only to being Ol’ Blue Eyes‘ daughter. Not Honk. He is a big fan of “These Boots are Made for Walkin’,” her classic tune. (Source: palmsprings85.com.)

To ask Honk questions, reach him at [email protected]. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk