Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 9, 1994 TAG: 9403090152
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE and STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Groups packed into Roanoke County Board of Supervisors and Blacksburg Town Council meetings Tuesday night to continue pressuring officials to oppose the proposed highway.
"Not till a decision is made will we be able to relax," Catawba resident Louise Garman said at the county meeting.
The Virginia secretary of transportation told Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Bud Oakey that the Catawba alternate route - one of seven possibilities for the proposed highway to pass through Virginia - is "so far down the [list], it will not be considered," Oakey told Roanoke County supervisors.
A report by Transportation Department staff was released Tuesday showing Catawba fifth overall on the list of possible I-73 routes. A route running along existing I-77 was listed first. Those rankings are only staff suggestions, however.
The department's second preference was for one that follows the proposed "smart road" through Montgomery County and along U.S. 460.
Montgomery County and Blacksburg opponents don't want the proposed road anywhere in the county.
At the council meeting, Linda Price told the members: "Blacksburg is growing in a very positive manner without this interstate. Do not buy into the myth that it takes pavement to build a community."
Her concerns were echoed by Pam Simpson:
"Do we want the agenda of politicians and business leaders in Roanoke to dictate our future, or do we want to take a stand?
"It is your right and responsibility to reconsider your position."
Tuesday's meeting was the second for the opponents, many of whom attended one two weeks ago where they first raised their demand that the council rescind its January resolution supporting the consideration of an I-73 route through Montgomery County.
Blacksburg council members all but allied themselves with the crowd.
"I think all of us would just as soon use the I-77 route," said Mayor Roger Hedgepeth, before being cut off by cheers.
Councilman Lewis Barnett went so far as to ask highway department resident engineer Dan Brugh if it would be a "reasonable position" for the council to note its opposition to the highway's going through Blacksburg.
Brugh responded, "Sure, that's what this whole process is about." Brugh was on hand for an I-73 informational work session, scheduled before Tuesday's recommendation.
The council decided to withhold adopting a formal resolution for the time being.
About 50 people packed the Roanoke County board's meeting room to oppose a Catawba route.
"Despite what we've heard today," resident Jim Martin said, "we still have great concern over it because of the fact it still exists, despite the order of ranking."
The supervisors also were reluctant to amend their resolution - they still support the interstate's passing through the Roanoke Valley along a path other than Catawba. But they did agree to reiterate their support for a Roanoke route in a message to Richmond, and send along comments made by residents at the meeting.
Delbert Eyer, one of the organizers of Catawba opposition, displayed charts showing that the Catawba route would be the longest and most expensive of the choices - $812 million more than the next costliest route.
The interest on $812 million, he joked, would pay for $23 million in wasted gas used on the Catawba route or buy 1,125,000 hogs a year. Opponents had dubbed the Catawba route "Pork Loop" because they see it as a pork barrel project.
Supervisors still hope to see the interstate come through Roanoke Valley because of the economic blessings they hope it will bestow on the area.
When it comes to landfills or prisons or highways, "People always want it in someone else's back yard," Supervisor Harry Nickens said.
"The back yard stops, at least in Roanoke County, up here," he said, at the supervisors' dais.
by CNB