ODOT releases Gridlock Grooves playlist June 8, 2018 Contact: Don Hamilton, 503-704-7452 PORTLAND -- Three freeway lane closures will create major traffic jams this summer so ODOT has prepared a Spotify playlist to help ease the pain of getting stuck in traffic. For sure there are better things to do in life than getting stuck in a traffic jam. Avoid the mess and use BigFixPDX.com. to sign up for construction alerts, find travel options and learn about all the work we’re doing to preserve your roads so they can serve you in the future. But if the traffic gets bad for you, tune in, bob your head and sing along. It won’t make the traffic go away but it might help you shake those traffic jam blues. You must have a Spotify account to access the playlist. Find it at Gridlock Grooves. Remember to cue up the playlist before you start driving, not after. Distracted driving can cause a crash and bring a hefty fine. If you’re counting, you’ll find 23 songs, each expressing one aspect of the commute. Here’s how it could work. If indeed it’s gridlock, you may well be on Road to Nowhere (Talking Heads) and you may be thinking, whatever OregonDOT Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen) but soon you’ll find yourself Stuck in the Middle (MIKA) and there’s No Going Back (Yuno). It’s Too Late (Carole King) and now you’ll Wait (Maroon 5) The Longest Time (Billy Joel). You are trying to get home and its Hard Times (Paramore). Your loved ones are Sitting, Waiting Wishing (Jack Johnson) For You (Liam Payne & Rita Ora). You feel Sorry (Justin Beiber) that you’ll be late again. You’re wondering if they will Leave a Light On (Tom Walker). Time is going by and you start to fret. Will You Be There (Michael Jackson) in time? Will they be Patient (Charlie Puth) One More Time (Daft Punk)? Meanwhile, those waiting for you can’t help but start wondering Where Are You Now? (Skrillex & Diplo feat. Justin Beiber) You want to Break Free (Ariana Grande) but there’s Nowhere to Run (Martha Reeves and the Vandellas). It’s Funny How Time Slips By (Willie Nelson) when you are sitting in traffic. You’ve been Waiting in Vain (Bob Marley), your tank is almost Running on Empty (Jackson Browne) and you wonder What Now (Rihanna), Don’t Leave Me (Blackstreet) stuck here forever! You are two hours in, but finally it seems like you are getting Closer (Tegan and Sara) to Freedom (Pharrell Williams) from the freeway after anxiously Waiting (Green Day) for such a long Time (Hootie and the Blowfish). You get home and try to apologize saying, “I got Hung Up (Madonna) in the worst construction traffic!” but instead you get an earful from the ones waiting for you. “You Should Have Known Better (Sufjan Stevens), OregonDOT has been warning you, and they had it posted to TripCheck! Why Do You Keep Me Waiting (Bread)? I’m Tired of Waiting For You (The Kinks) Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper)! Sheepishly, you agree and say, “If I Could Turn Back Time (Cher)” I would have used TripCheck and considered my other travel options. You pledge to be Better in Time (Leona Lewis) and say to yourself, “I’ll Be (Edwin McCain) more prepared in the future.”