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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 26, 1994                   TAG: 9405260101
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By ERIKA BOLSTAD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY SPEED LIMIT REDUCED

Motorists driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Roanoke will have to slow down to enjoy the view for the next few months.

Rangers have reduced the speed limit to 25 mph, from the regular 45 mph, along a 60-mile stretch of parkway between U.S. 220 and U.S. 221.

``There are workers out there cleaning up winter storm damage. It's a safety aspect,'' said Richard Morefield, district ranger.

The 60-mile stretch suffered severe damage this winter when ice-laden trees and limbs broke and littered the road. The trees have been removed from the road, but they are still in the ditch line, Morefield said.

Park rangers want motorists to slow down for stray branches - and the crews removing them.

``At a high speed, there is a safety concern if someone runs off the road into one of the trees sticking out in the ditch line,'' Morefield said.

Morefield urged drivers to be more attentive to crews removing limbs from the ditches and to obey the speed limit.

Park rangers can pull speeding drivers over and cite them for breaking the speed limit. Drivers caught speeding can expect to pay a $25 fine plus $3 per mile over the limit.

The speed limit will return to 45 mph in mid-July.

by CNB