Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 7, 1995 TAG: 9511070075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Nov. 2 letter by VDOT district construction engineer Pete Sensabaugh Jr. echoes one written by district administrator Fred Altizer Jr. three months ago.
Like Altizer, Sensabaugh straddles the fence and recommends further study of corridors on both sides of Back Creek for the proposed road improvements.
That conflicts with a resolution the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors passed in September.
After a marathon public hearing on the north-vs.-south debate, the board voted 3-2 to recommend that any future improvements be made along the existing alignment north of Back Creek and that no further corridors be studied.
The board sent a copy of its resolution to VDOT, which had asked for the supervisors' input.
Supervisors Lee Eddy, who represents part of the Back Creek community, and Ed Kohinke voted against the resolution.
"I don't know that I'm pleased, but I think it was the right decision" for Sensabaugh to recommend further study of two corridors, Eddy said. "The fact that it's contrary to the wishes expressed by the majority of the board does surprise me. We had been led to believe that the position of the Board of Supervisors would have quite a bit of weight."
Laura Bullock, VDOT director of community relations, said the board's recommendation did have an impact, but it is only one of three bodies of influence. The others are the public and VDOT's professional staff.
VDOT had two public hearings in March. More than 800 people expressed opinions. Of those, nearly half supported keeping the road in its existing alignment, with only about 16 percent favoring the south-of-the-creek option.
Since the beginning of the process 11/2 years ago, VDOT officials have made it clear they prefer corridor C, south of the creek.
Altizer, however, denied that is still the case. Instead, he described that option as a "tempting" alternative because there would be no traffic problems during construction and it would be built on land more conducive to road construction.
He said he and others at VDOT have not forgotten the problems with widening 221 at Bridlewood Road, where there were costly landslides.
More studies and detailed plans will eliminate unknowns like the condition of the land and exactly how many homes will be affected by either corridor, Altizer said.
"I wish we didn't have to be the bad guys. But the community out there is divided, and I don't have enough information to recommend A or B, but let me get more information," Altizer said. "We're going to do everything possible within good, common engineering guidelines to keep the improvements on the existing alignment."
When informed Monday of Sensabaugh's recommendation, board Chairman Fuzzy Minnix said it did not shock him. He said he knew from the beginning that VDOT could do "whatever."
"If that was how it was going to be to begin with, why ask the people? If it's more economically feasible and you can build a better road [south of the creek], I can buy that, the people of Roanoke County can buy that, so go ahead and do it. Don't go through this exercise of asking, 'What do you want, what do you want?' then turn around and do it the other way," Minnix said.
"The reason I'm going to be disappointed is the people I represent are going to be disappointed."
Altizer argued that input from resident has made a difference.
Future improvements to U.S. 221 from the end of this project, in the vicinity of Cotton Hill Road, to the foot of Bent Mountain are "going to be in the existing alignment. That's a big commitment," Altizer said.
Sensabaugh's recommendation needs the go-ahead from VDOT's chief engineer. Altizer said it's "not too often" that the engineer disagrees with the local office's recommendations.
From there, the issue goes to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, which has the final say.
Bullock expects a decision by the Transportation Board in December or January.
by CNB