Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 29, 1993 TAG: 9311300018
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That's because we're not content merely to widen existing roads, we want to build entirely new ones.
First came the Roanoke River Parkway and the "smart road." Now come Interstate 73 and a proposed interstate from Roanoke to Greensboro, which may or may not wind up being the same thing - and which may or may not ever be built.
Have trouble keeping up with what's proposed where? Take a deep whiff of hot tar, and consider all the ways we've devised to pave over our corner of the state. And remember, these are just the biggies:
1. U.S. 58
The project: Four-laning the existing highway from the Cumberland Gap to Hampton Roads.
The purpose: Promoting economic development in rural Southside and Southwest Virginia, by providing better road connections with the ports at Hampton Roads.
The cheerleaders: The late Speaker of the House A.L. Philpott was the chief one, but U.S. 58 is pretty much a sacred cow for all politicians in Southside and Southwest.
Cost: $600 million.
Status: The first $200 million has been spent and work is underway around Danville and Martinsville. But the governor has to approve issuing the remaining bonds. That's what George Allen and Mary Sue Terry were fussing about this fall - who would be more likely to look for a chance to issue them.
2. Roanoke River Parkway.
The project: A 1.5 mile road to connect the Blue Ridge Parkway with the Explore Park.
The purpose: To lure tourists by the zillions into Explore. This will be the living-history state park's only entrance. Along the way, they'll get a scenic view of the valley's old landfill, soon to be covered over and turned into a grassy knoll.
The cheerleaders: Explore Park planners. This was Bern Ewert's baby. He first envisioned a riverside parkway stretching all the way from Dixie Caverns to Smith Mountain Lake. That idea has now shrunk to a mere nub of an access road.
Cost: $15 million.
Status: Planning is underway. With luck, the road might be ready by 1996.
3. Interstate 73.
The project: A brand-new interstate from Detroit to Charleston, S.C.
The purpose: Officially, to provide a new link between the Midwest and the South. Unofficially, to pave over as much of West Virginia as possible.
The cheerleaders: There's a West Virginia group called the Bluefield to Huntington Highway Association that's pushing for a new road to open up rugged southern West Virginia. Beyond that, U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who's vowed to bring as much federal largesse to his state as possible, is generally pegged as the biggest booster. But his office says that's a myth; he's not involved.
Cost: Who knows, although Byrd once guesstimated the cost at $8 billion.
Status: Congress wants to build more interstate highways, and this is one of those on the list the feds are drawing up. But there's no money for it yet. Maybe someday.
For now, Virginia is trying to figure out where the road should pass through the Old Dominion. West Virginia and North Carolina want Virginia to just put up an I-73 sign on I-77 and be done with it. But some New River Valley localities are lobbying for the road to run through Giles, Montgomery and Floyd counties. Now the Roanoke Valley and Franklin County has gotten into the act. They want to the road to run along U.S. 220 south to Martinsville. Which brings us to . . .
4. An unnamed interstate from the Roanoke Valley to North Carolina's Piedmont Triad.
The project: To build an interstate-quality road to link I-81 with I-40 and I-85 in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem area.
The purpose: To give Martinsville an interstate, and better access to its two biggest neighbors.
The cheerleaders: A group of business leaders called Job Link. Their top dog: George Lester, the president of Martinsville building materials company. Oh, and John Lambert is their PR guy.
Cost: Ha!
Status: For now, a figment of Lester's imagination. But these are influential folks who have the ears of governors and senators, and if there's a chance I-73 might be coming through, who knows?
5. Trans-America Highway.
The project: A long-range proposal to build a new super highway across the country on which traffic could speed along at 150 miles per hour with the aid of "smart road" technology. High-speed rail might also be a part of the plan.
The purpose: To link the major Atlantic Coast port at Hampton Roads with the Pacific Coast port of Los Angeles. No right-of-ways have been selected yet but two of three corridors chosen for planning purposes run through Southwest Virginia.
The cheerleaders: Virginia, 11 other states and the federal government are involved in planning for the project, which is in its preliminary stages.
Cost: No price tag has been put on the project yet but it's identified as a high priority in Congress' 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act.
Status: The final report of a feasibility study is due next March.
6. "The smart road."
The project: To build a five-mile direct link - using intelligent vehicle highway systems technology - from Blacksburg to Interstate 81.
The purpose: Provide better access to Virginia Tech and create economic development from the IVHS technology.
The cheerleaders: A group of Virginia Tech, business and government leaders called the University Connection.
Cost: Two lanes - $52 million. Four lanes - $80 million.
Status: The project has been given the go-ahead by both the federal and state governments, but neither has put up any money for construction.
7. Christiansburg bypass.
The project: Known as alternate 3-A, it's a bypass connecting Christiansburg to Blacksburg.
The purpose: To relieve some of the traffic gridlock surrounding the retail shopping strip surrounding the Market Place shopping center.
The cheerleaders: Anyone's who's ever tried to drive from Blacksburg to Interstate 81 around 5 p.m.
Cost: $53 million.
Status: Included in Department of Transportation's six-year plan. Preliminary design of road has already started.
8. Peters Creek Road Extension in Roanoke.
The project: Extend the four-lane highway from Melrose Avenue to Brandon Avenue in Southwest Roanoke.
The purpose: To provide a link between the north and south sides of the city. It will also enable emergency service vehicles to respond quickly to calls in the area without having to go through Salem to cross Norfolk Southern's tracks. And the road will provide a shorter route to Valley View Mall for residents in he Southwest section of the city.
The cheerleaders: City emergency service and traffic officials, who say it will meet a longstanding need. Also, the Northwest Revitalization Corp., which believes the project will help revitalize the Plaza of Roanoke-Salem and nearby areas.
Cost: $23.2 million.
Status: The plans for the project are almost complete and most of the money has been allocated by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Construction will begin next year.
9. Wells Avenue in Roanoke.
The project: Widening Wells Avenue between Williamson Road and Second Street near Hotel Roanoke.
The purpose: To provide better access to the renovated hotel and complete a leg of a loop system in downtown to help eliminate congestion. But Gainsboro residents claim it will destroy their neighborhood.
The cheerleaders: City officials, Virginia Tech and other supporters of the hotel project.
Cost: $5.1 million.
Status: Construction is expected to begin next summer - unless a group of Gainsboro residents goes to court to try to halt the project.
10: Second Street and Gainsboro Road in Roanoke.
The project: Widen and realign Second Street to four lanes to link up with Gainsboro Road. A bridge will also be built over the railroad tracks at the Second Street rail crossing.
The purpose: To provide better access to downtown. Again, Gainsboro residents oppose the project.
The cheerleaders: City traffic officials who believe the project will help ease congestion and provide as better link between Orange Avenue and downtown.
Cost: $14.5 million.
Status: Construction will begin in late 1994. The plans are almost complete and the funds have been allocated by the state.
Staff writers Greg Edwards, Michael Stowe, Joel Turner, Lon Wagner and Dwayne Yancey contributed to this report.
by CNB