A caring citizen asked for more respect for freeways' neighbors in today's Seattle Times.

This is part of the special feature Freeway Box, showcasing my old life next to freeway viaducts.

Bumper soapbox

- Carol Kujawa of Everett says the state Department of Transportation deserves raves for the patterns in the concrete sound-barrier walls along Interstate 90 just east of Issaquah.

"The leaf patterns are absolutely gorgeous, and have great visual appeal," she said. "The DOT should have patterns like that on all the concrete walls along freeways in Washington. They should have other patterns, too, like fossils."

She laments, though, that the patterns are only on the freeway-facing side of the wall. They should be on both sides, she says, "so the neighborhoods could enjoy them, too."