THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 9, 1994 TAG: 9409080170
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THE ROAD WARRIOR
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
If you've noticed that a lot of the signs are looking brighter, it's not your eyes playing tricks on you.
Beginning last May, the state changed the standards for regular signs - such as construction signs, stop signs and speed limit signs - to have them cut from a more reflective material.
The material, called ``fluorescent prismatic lens type sheeting,'' will be used for construction signs and erected along with any new road projects.
The signs are brighter, easier to see and read. We get this info courtesy of Jody Harp with the traffic engineering bureau.
Jody oversees the particulars of construction sites - if the flagman has the right flag, if the right signs are erected, etc.
Jody has already begun implementing the signs in construction zones and engineers will soon follow suit by using the new material for permanent signs like stop signs. The signs will be added with new road projects.
And, of course, because they're brighter, they cost more.
A 48-inch sign that says ``road work ahead'' used to cost $192. Now it goes for $256.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Roberta Bernardini, no address given. I have two questions, or comments. The first is about when you come off the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway and you're taking the Witchduck exit.
There used to be a little sign there that said, ``begin to exit'' that puts you onto the side road on which you are presently not allowed to travel. I have not seen that sign (lately) and I did not know how that influenced when we moved into that particular lane.
Second, Witchduck/Kempsville Road was repaved from Greenwich down to Bonney Square Shopping Center on Princess Anne. Even though it was repaved it's very very bumpy.
Is this a temporary road or are they going to resurface it or what? Thank you.
RW: First, about that missing sign. The Virginia Department of Transportation took a close look at all the ``begin to exit'' signs and decided that the one there at Witchduck was actually causing more problems because it was set too far from the exit.
VDOT decided to get rid of the sign altogether.
The Independence ``begin to exit'' sign has been moved closer to the actual exit in the hopes that people will exit at the proper location and not before.
Officials and the state police are hoping to discourage folks from riding those shoulder lanes when they're not open to all traffic.
As for Witchduck Road, it was recently resurfaced, including the paving over of the gutter pans (in other words, they paved right to the curb, to give as much room to drivers as possible).
Because the paving was spread out over the gutter pans, there are dips and buckles in the two outside lanes.
However, the paving was done to extend the life of the road until future improvements can be made. Of course, no one knows yet what those improvements will be.
Cindy, Brigadoon Pines. I wonder if you could persuade someone with the city engineers to come back and take another look at the intersection of Indian River Road and Hawks Bill Drive.
A few months ago someone complained through your column about a newly built privacy fence on the corner that partially obstructed the view of oncoming Indian River Road traffic for a car trying to turn left from Hawks Bill.
As I recall the city's response was something like, sorry the fence is on private property. Well, now we have a new problem.
A few weeks ago a row of shrubs was planted all along the outside of that fence. If visibility was bad before, you should see it now. The only way to see around these shrubs is to literally pull out into the eastbound right hand lane of Indian River.
With two lanes of traffic coming at you at 45 mph you can imagine how potentially dangerous this intersection is. Sure hope you can help. Thanks.
RW: Apparently, several city departments are involved in this problem, which will likely require a change of zoning.
Engineers have already done their bit, as far as checking it out and offering recommendations. Now, zoning gets involved.
This has been going on for several months, so there's no telling when it'll be solved.
Rest assured though it's definitely a topic of discussion in more than one city office.
Jim, no address given. I'm concerned about Cypress Point Boulevard that runs from Wesleyan Drive into Club Head Road at the Cypress Point Country Club.
It's a 25 mph speed trap for that half of mile road and there's not a driveway, a house or a pedestrian along there to speak of other than golfers and most of them are riding carts. It seems, though, that the city could up the speed there to 35 mph and we could at least have half a chance of outrunning the golf balls that are coming behind us. Thank you kindly.
RW: You mean Broad Meadows Boulevard? That's the only road that runs from Wesleyan Drive into Club Head Road. Anyway, engineers say they'll be happy to take a look at it to see if upping the speed limit is feasible.
However, it won't be anytime real soon. Engineers have hit a big time backlog of work.
Rob, no address given. Good morning, Road. I just finished reading your column and either your spell checker is malfunctioning or Sharon Tyler has discovered a new type of crape myrtle tree. According to the way you have it spelled, it is a ``crape'' (pronounced ``crap'' by Rob) myrtle tree, or if perhaps you're French, it's a crape' myrtle tree.
In any event, I would advise against parking beneath it because it gives a new meaning to ``don't look up; there are birds above.'' Bye.
RW: Hey, Rob, our newspapers follow the spellings in Websters New World Dictionary, Third College Edition.
If you check that dictionary, you'll see that crape myrtle is the correct spelling. Some other dictionaries do list ``crepe'' myrtle as the second choice spelling, but even in those, ``crape'' is the preferred spelling.
Road even ventured to call Louis Cullipher of the city's Agriculture Department. Cullipher says that most Southern folks prefer the ``crepe'' spelling, but Virginia Tech uses the ``crape'' version. Or, write: The Road Warrior, Virginia Beach Beacon, 4565 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23462.
Don't forget to include your name, address and neighborhood. MEMO: Tell the Road Warrior about your motoring problems. Get 'em off your
chest. Call on Infoline, at 640-5555. After a brief message, dial ROAD
(7623). When directed, press 1 to deliver your message, and 1 again to
sign off. by CNB