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

DATE: FRIDAY, March 2, 1990                   TAG: 9003023338
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

`SMART ROAD' COULD AID CLEAN GROWTH

DICK ROBERS' suggestion a few months ago to make the proposed road between Blacksburg and Roanoke a "smart road" was met with some naysayers and scoffers. Since support for his idea has increased and spread even outside the Roanoke and New River valleys, I hope the detractors will at least keep an open mind. The technology that could be advanced though the "smart road" will be studied somewhere in this great country of ours, so why not here?

We should be concerned about the type of industry we attract. There are clean and not-so-clean industries. With the mountains creating a good environment for inversion, the less airborne pollution we create, the healthier our valleys will be for our kids and grandkids. Like it or not, we are going to grow! A "smart road" system will attract clean technological industry with high-paying jobs as well. The economic boost to the area is obvious.

Since the money to study this future method of travel is going to be spent anyway, we might as well benefit by its being spent here.

DAN D. OWEN\ ROANOKE

by CNB