Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 31, 1994 TAG: 9410310023
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A draft of a traffic analysis prepared for the owner of Valley View Mall appears to justify a new interchange off the highway one mile south of Hershberger Road. The study estimates that daily traffic may grow by 66 percent in the I-581-Hershberger Road area over the next 25 years, said Bob Bengston, the city's traffic engineer.
Although the precise site is still unknown, the interchange probably would be just north of Round Hill Elementary School and would cross the old 130-acre Watts Farm, which sits on both sides of the interstate south of Valley View.
The interchange would connect to an extension of Valley View Boulevard for which Wal-Mart has offered to pay if the interchange is approved. The 130 acres of farmland would be opened to development.
The traffic study is being prepared for Faison Associates by Wilbur Smith & Associates of Richmond, a traffic consulting firm. The study is expected to be final within a month, Bengston said. A draft already has been circulated through some city offices.
The consulting firm counted 74,000 cars daily on I-581 at Hershberger in April, a number that is expected to grow to 123,000 cars daily by the year 2020 if no road improvements are made in the mall area.
Traffic on Hershberger, which is the only way off the interstate to the mall, totals about 56,000 cars daily, according to the study. It is expected to increase to 87,000 cars by 2020 if no improvements are made, the study says.
The study attributes expected gains in traffic volume to normal growth in the area as well as "the growth that we know is coming with Wal-Mart," Bengston said.
The interchange probably is years away because it would need the approval of the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, city Public Works Director Bill Clark said.
Laura Bullock, a VDOT spokeswoman, said the agency has been talking with the federal agency, the city, Faison and Wal-Mart about an interchange, but no approvals have been granted.
"There might be other ways to get in and get out which wouldn't necessitate an interchange. At this point, we're involved in a process to see which would be the best solution," she said.
City officials in the past have estimated the interchange could cost as much as $2 million. Clark said that wherever it is built, it would include an overpass above the highway so that the interchange could be used by north- and southbound traffic.
Bob Hollis, acting director of the highway administration's Virginia Division, said an interchange might be eligible for as much as 90 percent of its funding by the federal government.
Wal-Mart officials in February announced plans for the 200,000-square-foot superstore - the largest in the state. It would go on 25 acres just south of the mall and include an eyeglass center, one-hour photo center, auto center, grocery store and hair salon. The store would employ about 450 people.
Wal-Mart originally asked the city Planning Commission to rezone a small adjacent parcel to accommodate an interchange. In March, the panel withheld rezoning, asking for traffic studies.
Wal-Mart reconfigured its plans to accommodate an exit ramp without the rezoning and yanked the request.
The city is reviewing development plans. City planner Tom Tasselli said all appear to be in order, except that Wal-Mart still has to submit a final plan for connecting to the city's water system.
"Once they figure out how to turn on their water, they'll be good to go," he said.
by CNB