Like a lot of people have said, do NOT ride there if you don't feel safe! It isn't worth it.

You've made me very grateful to live where I do. I have similar roads, but not much traffic on those. I have the occasional driver who passes way too close, usually when they'd have not reason not to move over a foot (one just inches away today), but I can go days without encountering those.

Don't worry about feeling like you're cheating. On the days I commute I drive 2-1/2 mikes to the nearest pavement. Yes, I feel like it's cheating, but the alternative is a much longer (timewise) trip to work, with the likelihood of frequent flats. And dust, and mud, ... and sometimes terrible washboard sections, ... So I'm way more of a sissy!

Be safe!