THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 27, 1995 TAG: 9501260150
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
Good news this week, folks. Indian River Road Phase IV, for all intents and purposes, is FINISHED.
Yes, you heard Road right. The days of detours and the bumpy congested two-laner that was Indian River are long gone.
Indian River Road now has six pristine lanes of asphalt, which spread out to eight lanes between the new Centerville Turnpike and the on and off ramps of I-64.
All the signals - one at Kemps River and Lake James, at Ferry Point and Thompkins Lane, at the new Centerville and Indian River and even the light for the folks at the Founders Inn - are all up and working. Although they probably haven't been coordinated. CMAQ, the project to retime lights, will probably take care of that when it hits this particular corridor.
Anyway, Road could hardly believe that the project was finally finished and took a ride out to check. And it's no lie. It's finished all right. Other than a couple of pavement markings, there's nothing left to do.
So, Road's next question is, how do you like it? Has traffic congestion eased any?
And since we're talking construction . . . Road's friend Doug mentioned something the other day that got Road to wondering about the construction on Independence Boulevard.
``Just when are they going to start enforcing that reduced speed limit?'' Doug asked, in reference to the posted 35 mph speed limit in the construction zone on Independence. ``I try and do the speed limit and someone's always right up on me.''
Well, Doug's not alone. Road travels this road almost daily and folks seem to be ignoring the fact that they need to slow down for the construction zone. Road saw one cop there and he was just cutting through the grassy median to change directions. Road wonders when an officer will get the notion to hang around awhile?
After all, those orange and white barrels are practically in the lanes, so it's essential that you folks pay attention and slow it down. Those workers would like to go home at the end of the day, too. And if you're riding someone's bumper who pays you no mind, it's probably Road or Doug, refusing to ignore the posted speed limit.
Speaking of Doug. He and his boss, who frequently travel around the area as part of their jobs, saw something odd.
Doug says some guy wearing a placard that read something like, ``bad sidewalk,'' was protesting on South Witchduck Road the other day, in front of an apartment complex and other businesses. He was pacing back and forth on the road and both men say a city truck was there watching.
Road's not sure what this deal was or is about. In fact, Road first thought maybe a city employee was having some fun with one of the city's signs, but at this point, Road isn't sure.
Anyone got any ideas on just what was going on with this sidewalk protester? Several other businesses in the area said they saw a man out protesting last week but haven't a clue as to what his protest was about.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Elise Willis, Chesapeake Beach. I want to complain about that light on Pleasure House Road at Shore Drive. Getting in and out of Chesapeake Beach on Pleasure House Road is getting worse and worse. By the way, that's spelled Chic's Beach - no k in it.
RW: According to city maps, there is no such thing as Chick's Beach or Chic's Beach. It's Chesapeake Beach, and since we can't agree on its more casual spelling, we'll just stick with Chesapeake Beach. Anyway, engineers say the light's timing is right on the money. Of course, that doesn't mean there hasn't been some sort of equipment malfunction that would make the timing seem off. Engineers are going to check it out once again.
Matthew Croy, Virginia Beach. I'm calling about the white lines painted in the turn lanes that people don't seem to follow. A lot of accidents can be saved if these people understand they've got to follow that line all the way around. People gotta wake up and drive smart.
RW: You got a point there, Matthew. A good example of this problem is at Bonney Road and Independence. Turning left off Bonney onto Independence (or to the on-ramp to 44) not one person follows the right lines of that turn. If they did, folks would know that to get on the toll road the far right lane is the one to be in; to go straight on Independence to turn onto Baxter, the left lane is the one to be in because if you'll notice those white lines follow that pattern. Most people in that far right lane seem to think they can follow whatever path they choose. That's just not the case. Tighten up out there, folks.
John, Kempsville, no address given. I think a right-turn arrow on Reon Drive to enter onto Providence would be a good idea, especially while the left-turn signal is on for people on Providence turning onto Reon. That would save a lot of stop-and-go to get onto Providence. People could just drive on.
Joe Dara, Rosemont Forest. In reference to the traffic count on Reon: I don't know who's counting that traffic, but if you get up there during the week between 4:30 and 5 p.m., it backs up from Providence Road to Indian River, especially when a bus stops at that Park and Ride lot.
We definitely need a right-turn arrow at Reon and Providence. Somebody better count that traffic again.
RW: There can't be a right-turn arrow turning from Reon onto Providence because it would conflict with left-turning traffic from Providence onto Reon.
Remember, that those who have a left-turn arrow are free to U-turn, meaning that if right-turners also had a green arrow, there would be a conflict as to who really had the right of way.
Now, if that median between the lanes on Providence wasn't there, those folks turning left couldn't possibly make a U-turn and there'd be no problem. But, alas, there is a median and therefore there will be no right-turn-on-red arrow.
The alternative offered up by engineers is to stop trying to avoid Indian River Road by using Reon as a cut-through and instead brave the masses and try Indian River again. It's now open and nice and wide.
Don Pietruski, Windsor Woods. I'm calling in reference to the tolls coming off Route 44. Has anyone thought of how people are going to exit off the expressway? I can see a lot of merging and possibly a lot of wrecks. The toll booths are a natural barrier, if you will. I was just wondering how they were going to control traffic at the exits.
RW: Well, Don, Road's sure the powers that be haven't thought that far in advance. It seems that we'll be needing some sort of system, though, to control the traffic flow. Maybe those four or five state troopers who used to hang around the toll baskets to catch offenders, will need something new to do? MEMO: Tell the Road Warrior about your motoring problems. Get 'em off your
chest. Call on Infoline, at 640-5555. After a brief message, dial ROAD
(7623). When directed, press 1 to deliver your message, and 1 again to
sign off.
Or, write: The Road Warrior, Virginia Beach Beacon, 4565 Virginia
Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23462.
Don't forget to include your name, address and neighborhood.
by CNB