THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 10, 1994 TAG: 9408100666
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Currituck County officials are making plans to make their highways safer and more appealing and able to carry local and out-of-town motorists well into the next century.
The future of Currituck roadways was part of a lengthy discussion Monday night by members of the county planning board and the board of commissioners.
About 25 residents and county officials discussed ways Currituck could modernize its major roads without forsaking its rural heritage.
Suggestions were taken from a U.S. Highway 158 & N.C. Highway 168 Corridor Plan that took a citizens committee more than two years to create.
The committee listed 73 ways to make the county's 43-mile stretch of highway last longer and accommodate more traffic as Currituck continues to grow rapidly.
``Many of these recommendations were the result of spirited debate among members of the highway corridor committee,'' said Jack Simoneau, the county planning director, who led Monday's meeting.
That debate continued briefly during the session, as members argued about a bypass for Outer Banks-bound tourists who currently use two-laned N.C. 168.
Manley West of Moyock, a member of the highway corridor committee, said he was disappointed to see a bypass proposal initially set aside in favor of widening N.C. 168 next year.
Placing a five-lane highway through the middle of unincorporated towns like Moyock, near the Virginia state line, would divide neighborhoods, he said.
``You're defeating the whole purpose unless you bypass these communities,'' West said.
But others at the session said they believe Currituck could maintain its bucolic flavor with a larger road system, as it has with the expansion of U.S. 158 from Barco to the Wright Memorial Bridge.
A key, some members said, is to preserve historic buildings and control residential and commercial strip development.
Highlights of the highway blueprint include the following:
Widening U.S. 158 from Barco to the Camden County line and creating a northbound flyover to limit traffic backups where it connects to N.C. 168.
Amending a 1988 thoroughfare plan to include a possible N.C. 168 bypass that would run from Moyock to a newly expanded U.S. 158. A bypass was included in a 1972 county road plan but later was dropped. Designating an area for a future route would impact potential commercial and residential development along affected areas.
Creating more ``connector roads'' to provide an alternate north-south route for local motorists, particularly during the peak tourist seasons. Residents have often complained of heavy highway congestion on summer and holiday weekends.
Adopting driveway regulations on major roads and providing right-hand deceleration lanes to keep highway traffic moving steadily.
Adopting on-premise sign regulations to improve the highway's appearance. Input from highway businesses advertising with billboards and other signs would be essential, Simoneau said.
Controlling strip development along U.S. 158 and N.C. 168 through zoning restrictions, agricultural preservation and conditional use permits for retailers who wish to work from their home.
Providing ``viewsheds'' that show off Currituck's natural resources and country roots.
``Is there a way that we can preserve some of that rural heritage that really defines the county?'' Simoneau asked.
Other suggestions include highway mile markers, community entrance signs and a committee to monitor future changes.
``A plan is worth nothing unless it's implemented,'' Simoneau said. ``Unless we hear that there is a concern or problem, then we'll begin to utilize staff time to addressing some of these items.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT AREAS
Among the proposed improvements to the various areas of Currituck
County:
MOYOCK: Locate a welcome center at the Virginia-North Carolina
line between 1995 and 2004. The North Carolina Department of
Transportation would pay for the project.
SLIGO: Landscape along the highway and the traffic island at the
N.C. 168 and N.C. 34 intersection in the next couple of years.
CURRITUCK/MAPLE: Establish a public waterfront recreation area
along Coinjock Bay by 2000.
COINJOCK: Limit access from a midcounty bridge to the Aydlett
community, keeping high-quality commercial development along U.S.
158 in that area. Also, consider a golf course near Maple Swamp.
GRANDY: Encourage low density, recreation-oriented residential
development between secondary roads and sensitive swamp areas.
JARVISBURG/POWELLS POINT: Consider a boating access to the North
River and Albemarle Sound near Newberns Landing Road. The project
would be done about 2000.
HARBINGER: Encourage specialty tourist shops and businesses
between Church Road and U.S. 158. Landscape the western terminus of
Wright Memorial Bridge in 1996.
by CNB