ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 23, 1997 TAG: 9704230076
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: EAGLE ROCK
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY THE ROANOKE TIMES
Only a few months ago, this little town in northern Botetourt County seemed ignored, put upon, consigned to oblivion.
He came, he saw, he got an earful.
A "little, loud town" turned out Tuesday to thank Gov. George Allen for helping save what must be by now the most famous bridge in the state.
Dee Dee Bruce gave him a commemorative blanket of Botetourt County, the Rev. Robert McRae gave him a blessing, and more than 100 people lined up to shake his hand and get their picture taken with the state's chief executive.
But while the governor was in town, the people of Eagle Rock had a few other teensy road-building requests as well:
Some flashing lights to slow down traffic on U.S. 220.
A more level grade at the intersection of Virginia 43 and U.S. 220.
A four-lane U.S. 220 all the way to Clifton Forge.
To speed up the construction of the new bridge across the James River into town.
"We're this little, loud town," said Bruce, the community activist who led the charge to save the town's bridge across the James River. as she went down her list of other traffic concerns she wanted Allen to hear.
Hey, you get the governor to stop by your community, that's no time to be shy. And Eagle Rock is anything but shy.
Only a few months ago, this town in northern Botetourt County seemed ignored, put upon, consigned to oblivion - the Virginia Department of Transportation planned to tear down the rotting old bridge that serves as the main entrance to town and didn't intend to replace it.
Then came the town meetings, the major letter-writing campaign, the politicians scrambling to come up with a solution.
On Tuesday, with a new bridge promised, the people of Eagle Rock seemed empowered. When Allen stopped by as part of his annual "listening tour" of the state, the crowd kept him for a full two hours.
Mike Reid, the captain of the Eagle Rock Rescue Squad, even made a point of showing up Allen's secretary of transportation with an embarrassing question or two - pointing out how Robert Martinez "conveniently" stepped out of a recent transportation hearing in Salem when the Eagle Rock bridge was discussed. "I wanted the governor to know that," Reid said afterward.
"We feel our tax dollars are as good as anybody else's."
Allen good-naturedly took the questions, referring many of the technical ones to Martinez and a delegation of other transportation officials who accompanied him.
"Let's have some realism," Allen cautioned after Reid ticked off his list of ideas on how to fix a dangerous two-lane U.S. 220 through northern Botetourt County.
"We're looking at it," Martinez assured him.
"Thank you, sir," Reid replied. "We appreciate what you're doing for us."
Allen had come with a small nugget of news for Eagle Rock, announcing that Martinez had figured out a way to sign up the design consultants for the new bridge in June, rather than in the fall.
Allen also announced that, on the way to the meeting, he'd ordered his driver to make a U-turn so they could drive across the bridge. "I said, 'Listen, we've got to see this bridge.'''
The crowd applauded warmly, then proceeded to grill the governor about why it would take until 1999 to actually start construction and another 18 to 24 months to finish.
"Sir, when a flood hits, you jump out and get a plan out in about three months," said Floyd Coffey.
Martinez replied that if the job could be done more quickly, it would be, but "I'm not going to make promises we can't keep."
Despite their persistence, the Eagle Rock residents seemed genuinely pleased to have the governor in their midst, frequently applauding as he spent an hour and a half taking questions on everything from abortion to welfare - and another half-hour shaking hands.
Some said the governor's visit to Eagle Rock helped restore their faith in democracy. "Just to see the higher-up government folks talking about [the bridge], it gives you more faith in the system," said Guy Caldwell.
"I think it was a wonderful meeting," said Raymond Hundley. "It made everybody feel a lot closer to our state government."
"I think with the governor prodding it, we'll see some results," Reid said
Even Reid said he felt confident that Eagle Rock's other traffic concerns would get addressed. "I think with the governor prodding it, we'll see some results. If not, I know how to pick up the phone."
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: JANEL RHODA/THE ROANOKE TIMES. 1. Floyd Coffey speaks atby CNBthe Eagle Rock town meeting Tuesday. color. 2. Gov. George Allen
attended the Eagle Rock town meeting Tuesday.