ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 14, 1996 TAG: 9611140049
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: What's on your mind?
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: What are the plans for building a new bridge along Hollins Road between Orange Avenue and 13th Street Southeast? How soon is that supposed to happen? N.N., Roanoke
A: There are definite plans for a bridge there. They've been in the Virginia Department of Transportation's six-year plan for several years.
Each year, the plans get postponed another 12 months or more.
This fiscal year, the 13th Street-Hollins Road project is on paper for preliminary engineering starting in 1999, with $50,000 budgeted.
Last year, it was on paper for preliminary engineering starting in 1997, with $100,000 budgeted.
The current six-year plan shows no major spending is expected until 2001, when $2.8 million is budgeted. Apparently, that's when the preliminary work would get serious.
There's no timetable for acquiring right of way or starting construction.
Why do these delays happen?
There's a limited supply of road-building dollars, and they can be sucked up for years in advance by projects already under way.
Two roads now being built in Roanoke are costing more than projected in the six-year plan. The Gainsboro Road-Second Street bridge is costing $15.8 million, which is $2.6 million above projections in 1995.
The Brandon Avenue widening cost stands at $8.5 million. That's $1 million above last year's prediction.
These costs reflect the difference between plans by engineers and bids by contractors.
Another factor that can change plans for future allocations is economic development. Old Hollins Road in Roanoke County got widened in a hurry when Hanover Direct agreed to build a mail-order warehouse in 1994.
Colorful Hank
Q: Recently a co-worker used the phrase "Pull a Hank Snow," meaning to disappear. Who was Hank Snow and what is the reference to disappearing? S.A., Roanoke
A: Hank Snow, 82, is a country music legend.
He never disappeared, which would have been hard to do anyway in his rhinestone-studded fuchsia suits.
"Pull a Hank Snow" is a reference to his trademark song, "I'm Movin' On," released in 1950.
One million records were sold, a rare accomplishment for a country artist of that era. Emmylou Harris recorded the song in the mid-'80s.
New street, lights
Q: With the new Peters Creek Road extension in Cherry Hill Park, our street is now a dead end. Will it still be called Cherry Hill Road? Also, the new road that replaced the Cherry Hill entrance from Shenandoah Avenue is pitch-black at night. Does the city plan to put lighting on the new street? J.H., Roanoke
A: The city is deciding how much lighting will be needed for the new road, Traffic Engineer Bob Bengtson said.
Apparently the new road will be called Cherry Hill, and the old street will get a new name. The city Planning Commission will decide on one.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Call us at 981-3118. Or, e-mail RayR@Roanoke.Infi.Net. Maybe we can find the answer.
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