ROANOKE TIMES 

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

DATE: SATURDAY, March 7, 1992                   TAG: 9203070119
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

SUPERVISORS WILL BE ASKED TO SUPPORT UPGRADING OF I-81, FOUR-LANING OF 114

Congested roads and fire and rescue equipment will be on the Monday night agenda for the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.

In anticipation of a March 24 public hearing by the Virginia Department of Transportation in Salem, county Administrator Betty Thomas will ask the supervisors to go on record supporting improvements on Interstate 81 between Christiansburg and Roanoke and on Virginia 114 between Radford and the New River Valley Mall.

Heavily traveled I-81 contains an abnormal amount of tractor-trailer traffic and needs to be upgraded, says a resolution that Thomas has prepared for the supervisors' consideration. It calls for all of Virginia 114 to be made four lanes.

The resolution also re-emphasizes the county's support for the direct link highway between Blacksburg and I-81 without an Ellett Valley interchange and for the Alternate 3A bypass of U.S. 460.

Thomas also will ask the supervisors to approve a proposed capital improvements budget for next year. The proposal was developed by a committee appointed by the board.

At the top of the proposal is a $225,000 tanker for the Riner Fire Department. Other priority items include a new ambulance for the Alleghany Rescue Squad, a new crash truck for the Blacksburg Rescue Squad and an equipment van for the Christiansburg Fire Department.

Twenty-five items are on the list, totalling $1.48 million. The proposed county budget, which will go to public hearing at Auburn High School on March 19, contains roughly $1.13 million for capital improvements next year.

Additionally, the supervisors will consider a request Monday for rezoning 4.4 acres on Huff Lane in the Merrimac community from agricultural to residential.

The supervisors hold their regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. on the third floor of the county courthouse in Christiansburg. 


 by CNB