ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996 TAG: 9603070051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
The Roanoke Planning Commission on Wednesday agreed to seek state help in building a partial interchange on Interstate 581 near Valley View Mall and to scrap long-held plans for a connection between Valley View Boulevard and 10th Street.
Planning Commission approval was the first hurdle the city administration had to clear in the process of winning approval from the federal government for a new interchange. It would ease traffic congestion on Hershberger Road caused by the recent opening of a Wal-Mart Supercenter near Valley View Mall.
The city has already borrowed $5 million to build the interchange, which would be about a mile south of Hershberger Road.
But the Federal Highway Administration won't allow its construction - even if the city pays for all of it - unless the Virginia Department of Transportation commits to major long-term improvements along the highway in the Valley View area.
A partial interchange would take northbound I-581 traffic directly to Valley View Boulevard in the area of the mall and Wal-Mart, bypassing Hershberger Road. Traffic leaving the mall would cross I-581 on a new overpass to enter southbound 581.
As part of the plan, the city would scrap plans for a connection from 10th Street to Valley View Boulevard via Andrews Road.
City Traffic Engineer Bob Bengtson told the commission that connection wouldn't be needed if the new interchange is built.
City Council will review the plan at a March 18 meeting. If council approves, the city will ask VDOT to amend its six-year plan to include access roads parallel to I-581 in the Valley View area.
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