Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 28, 1991 TAG: 9102280238
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"There is no other project before you that provides so many benefits to the community," said Reemsnyder, president of Snyder Hunt Corp., at a council meeting Tuesday night.
Reemsnyder said that the project would provide more access to Virginia Tech, the town's largest employer, and that it would facilitate development in many other parts of town.
Snyder Hunt plans to build Hethwood II, a community of 1,400 residential units adjacent to Hethwood in west Blacksburg, over the next 15 years.
The proposed road would follow Hubbard Street from South Main Street, turn north to Southgate Drive and connect with the U.S. bypass at a grade-separated interchange.
Reemsnyder also urged the town to request state funding to extend the road from the bypass into the Hethwood community.
Blacksburg will take its list of top projects to the Virginia Department of Transportation in April for consideration of state funding.
The town's projects currently include finishing South Main Street, widening Glade Road, extending Patrick Henry Drive, and the so-called Hubbard-Country Club-Southgate Drive extension.
Blacksburg asked last year to switch the last two projects in order of priority, and also to include funding for the segment into Hethwood community. The state denied the request.
Mayor Roger Hedgepeth said that the town plans to ask that the Southgate project get moved up to third place.
"This project is No. 3 on our list, and that's what we're pursuing," he said.
Council is scheduled to adopt a list of projects at its March 12 meeting.
Town Manager Ron Secrist said that the state's annual contribution to Blacksburg's urban roads projects will probably decrease, from an average of $1.6 million to roughly $1.4 million, due to the state's fiscal crisis.
Also at the meeting, Councilman Lewis Barnett asked that the town submit a proposal to the Virginia Municipal League to be considered for a recognition award for town citizens who contributed money to build a school in Blacksburg's Nicaraguan sister city.
by CNB