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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 7, 1995                   TAG: 9511070054
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

ALTERNATIVE 3A HEARING WEDNESDAY IN BLACKSBURG

The official public hearing on the design of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg bypass connector will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Blacksburg Holiday Inn.

The connector, also known as Alternative 3A, is to be built to the east of existing U.S. 460 between the towns. It is designed to relieve traffic congestion at "Malfunction Junction," the overburdened intersection of U.S. 460 and Peppers Ferry Road in Christiansburg that's surrounded by the bulk of the New River Valley's retail shopping. The project's second phase also will link the existing Christiansburg bypass to a new Interstate 81 interchange beside Montgomery County's future Falling Branch industrial park.

Two weeks ago the state Department of Transportation held an informational meeting on the project that drew 225 people. This time, members of the public will be able to leave oral or written statements on the project's design. Information on right of way acquisition, relocation assistance and tentative construction schedules also will be available.

For further information, call the Department of Transportation's Christiansburg office at 381-7200.

by CNB