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

DATE: FRIDAY, May 12, 1995                   TAG: 9505120025
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                 LENGTH: Short

OFFICIALS HOPING TO PLAN FOR INTERSTATE 81 INTERCHANGE|

Montgomery County, Blacksburg and Christiansburg officials are planning how a new Interstate 81 interchange might include a visitors center and develop into more than just another collection of fast-food restaurants.

The Montgomery County Planning Commission and representatives from the two towns agreed Wednesday to study ways to prepare for a new interchange with I-81 at Falling Branch.

The new interchange would link the existing Christiansburg bypass of U.S. 460 to the interstate next to the county's new industrial park and Falling Branch Elementary School. That 0.8-mile extension would be the second phase of a plan to connect the bypasses of Blacksburg and Christiansburg by 2001.

Montgomery, Christiansburg and Blacksburg officials talked over ideas for the new interchange during a Wednesday work session. County planning and economic development officials will work with the staff of the New River Valley Planning District Commission to summarize the ideas in a report, said Joe Powers, county planning director. That report would then go back to the towns' and county planning commissions with the idea of having a joint meeting in three to four months.

by CNB