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

DATE: TUESDAY, February 5, 1991                   TAG: 9102050433
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IF ANYONE NEEDS `SMART ROAD,' ITS 221 MOTORISTS

MANY TIMES I wanted to write when I read something about the "smart road." Now that they want to spend $4.5 million to widen Crystal Creek Road, I feel I must let my feelings be known.

One question about "smart road": Who needs it? So what if there are wheels that need to get to the airport faster; let them start a little earlier. There's a good road to Blacksburg. It's called Interstate 81 - almost anyone can give you directions. We live too fast anyway!

As for Crystal Creed Road, I agree with the homeowners: Nobody needs to go that way except them. So leave them alone.

If anyone needs a "smart road," it is the people who live out U.S. 221 south. There are a lot of not-so-smart drivers on this stretch between 419 and Bent Mountain. Try driving it three times a day, as some of us do, and be met head-on by someone in the curves on your side of the road! Listen to the sirens, on weekends especially, and count the black marks from one day 'til the next. Watch out when you are being passed on the yellow line by those in a rush to get to work. Never mind the school buses, just pass 'em by as fast as you can.

The state needs to consider 221 south above all else. Thanks for the 1 1/2 miles of new four-lane. It might help - but very little. EDITH MULLINS ROANOKE

by CNB