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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 18, 1993                   TAG: 9303180154
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Southwest Bureau
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

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X'S MARK SPOT FOR AERIAL PHOTOS

Those large white "X" marks on the ground in Carroll, Floyd and Patrick counties have been put there to identify particular locations for aerial photography of the U.S. 58 corridor.

Before leaves appear on the trees in the spring, photographers from the Virginia Department of Transportation will fly along the route taking pictures for use in planning roadway construction. U.S. 58 eventually is to be reconstructed from Lee County to the East Coast of Virginia.

"Aerial photography needs to be done when leaves are off the trees," said Fred Altizer Jr., the department's Salem district administrator. "We get the best sun angle and fewer shadows when we take pictures between the first of the year and early April."

He said timing is crucial.

"If we don't do it now, we have to wait a year to get the right conditions. So it's important for us to look at future projects when we schedule this work," he said.

Anderson & Associates, a Blacksburg engineering firm, is putting the targets on the ground.

Letters were sent to landowners notifying them that workers may have to enter their property to put the crosses down. Placement of the marker does not mean construction across a particular property is near, or that exact locations for improvements have been chosen.

"We don't have any idea about the timetable for preparation of plans for U.S. 58 corridor construction projects," Altizer said. "There's no schedule for that at this time."

Questions about the aerial photography can be directed to Junior Goad, resident engineer for Carroll and Floyd counties (telephone 728-2813) or Joel Amos, Patrick and Henry counties (629-2581).

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