ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SATURDAY, June 26, 1993                   TAG: 9306260092
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-7   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short


GOOD ATTENDANCE PROCLAIMED FOR ROAD HEARING

The resident engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation said he was pleased with the turnout at Thursday's public hearing on the extension of Patrick Henry Drive to University City Boulevard.

Dan Brugh said 32 people stopped by the Blacksburg Community Center to gather information on the projects.

"It was certainly more people than I expected," he said. The state tried out a new format aimed at making public meeting more "citizen friendly."

Instead of making comments in front of a crowd, individuals were allowed to sit alone with a court reporter and record their thoughts, or they could write out their suggestions.

Brugh said three people made verbal statements and about a dozen filled out comment sheets.

He said most were minor concerns about the $3.4 million project.

"I didn't see anything major at all," he said.

Construction of the new road is scheduled for early 1995.

Written comments about the project can still be submitted for the next eight days.



 by CNB