Narrower freeway lanes might raise anxiety for some drivers, especially when sandwiched between two big rigs on either side. But hey, the extra lane created by width-slimming existing ones means more vehicle capacity — and that means faster travel from here to there.

That’s why the state Department of Transportation’s project to add a new freeway westbound lane from the Red Hill area to Aiea is welcome. For $4 million worth of restriping paint and asphalt concrete paving, the new lane will stretch for 2 miles from the Halawa Interchange on Moanalua Freeway to the Aiea pedestrian overpass. Night work starts today, and come mid-August — voila! — a better commute, hopefully.

Get checked for mumps — it’s going around

If you have not already checked your vaccination card for measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) shots, do so. If you have questions or concerns on whether you’re due for a dose of the MMR vaccine, contact your doctor or a health care provider.

This year’s outbreak of the highly contagious mumps virus — four or five times more infectious than the flu — is continuing its drift through Hawaii and has so far resulted in at least 81 cases, all but two on Oahu.