Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 10, 1990 TAG: 9007100332
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"I'm not interested in this big monster project the highway department has cooked up," said Waldon Kerns. "All I'm interested in is connecting two streets."
The Virginia Department of Transportation recently proposed an elaborate plan for the extension of Patrick Henry Drive to intersect at Airport Road. The plan caused an immediate, townwide uproar because it would have wiped out several historic homes.
Council ditched the plan and has asked the state to look at a shorter extension of Patrick Henry Drive to Clay Street.
The town officials also will ask the highway department to study the feasibility of improving Clay Street, which would likely get more traffic from the proposed Patrick Henry loop.
Council members elapsed into some good-natured political jockeying about what improvements were needed or if they were needed at all.
"Of course you need a bike trail and a sidewalk," said Lewis Barnett, an avid bicyclist who can be counted on to staunchly advocate bike trails on any road issue.
"Of course, you don't need it [the loop] at all," said Michael Chandler. Chandler has said he doesn't think there is enough traffic downtown to merit a bypass.
But the rest of council maintain that Patrick Henry Drive must be extended - north to Toms Creek Road and south to Clay Street - to keep the town's transportation network flowing smoothly.
At this point, it appears the road would take an apartment building on Lee Street and one on Roanoke Street, and one or two houses, Town Manager Ron Secrist said.
The Patrick Henry Drive project is fourth on the town's list of priorities for the department, and so is not included in the six-year funding cycle.
by CNB