ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SUNDAY, January 16, 1994                   TAG: 9401140090
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: F-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HAYMARKET                                LENGTH: Short


CONSULTANT SAYS PARK WOULD FORCE 10-LANING I-66

A transportation consultant hired by Prince William County opponents of a proposed Walt Disney Co. theme park predicts the development will cause much more traffic than the company has suggested.

A study by Robert L. Morris, a Maryland consultant, said the theme park could cause enough traffic to require Interstate 66 to be widened to ten lanes. The study also predicts by the year 2010 eastbound evening rush-hour traffic on I-66 could become greater than westbound traffic out of the Washington area. The predictions were discounted by Disney officials.

"We stand by the accuracy of our analysis," said Tom Lewis, vice president of development for Disney Development Co.

Morris was hired by Protect, a group of northern Virginia residents who oppose the proposed Disney's America. He contends Disney officials failed to take into account additional growth in Prince William and its impact on I-66. Improvements to the highway could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, Morris said.



 by CNB