THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409150168
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THE ROAD WARRIOR
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
The city's Agriculture Department wants to remind folks about the harvest season and the increase of farm machinery on the city's southern roads.
It seems that most farmers are now finishing up their corn crops and will be harvesting soybeans soon.
Believe it or not, this largely suburban resort city of ours still produces a decent amount of crops every year. Local extension agent Melvin Atkinson said agriculture ranks third behind military and tourism as the top industries in Virginia Beach.
The department is asking motorists to watch for farmers on slow-moving vehicles.
Farmers who must use the roads also are reminded that any vehicle that drives under 25 mph must have a ``slow moving'' triangle emblem displayed in the rear.
Farmers are typically allowed to travel the roads necessary to harvest, from field to barn, etc. This type of machinery is not supposed to be cruising all over the city, though.
Anyhow, folks, let's give those kind farmers a hand and not terrorize them on the roads this year, eh?
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Jean, Wildwood Square. My complaint is about Wildwood Drive where it crosses First Colonial Road.
The two parts of Wildwood Drive don't match up straight across the road, so they're offset a bit and the cars that make left-hand turns there never know the right place to start turning.
I think it really needs to have dotted lines painted on the road there to show people the right way to go when they make their left-hand turns. Thanks.
RW: You're right, Jean. The intersection is a little skewed. Problem is, to add the mini-skips, or the lines you're talking about, the road would likely have to be a little wider.
The other option would be to rephase the traffic signal so that only one side goes at a time, and then First Colonial turns green. This would slow people down considerably, especially on First Colonial, a main road.
Engineers have agreed to check out the accident reports for that intersection to see what can be done, if anything.
Bernard Allen, No Address Given. Someone should check Pacific Avenue from the Cavalier down to Laskin. No one pays attention to speed limits. There must be an accident a month and somebody's going to get killed trying to pull in from one of the streets on Atlantic Avenue crossing over.
RW: People do tend to put the ``pedal to the metal'' on this stretch of road. Only problem is, there isn't enough traffic to warrant any type of signal. Sounds like it could be a case for a local cop who is looking to write a few tickets.
Donna, Kempsville. Rosemont Road is open now from Lynnhaven all the way to Landstown and they only have the speed at 35 mph. What are the chances of getting it raised to 45 mph? Nobody's doing 35 mph. Thanks, Road.
RW: Well, engineers suppose that the speed limit is only 35 mph because there are still lots of houses bordering the road. It does seem a little like crawling when you're traveling 35 mph down it. Engineers are going to ask around and see if the driveways are the cause of the lower speed limit.
Paul, No Address Given. I'd like to know about the police officer in front of Virginia Wesleyan College. Does the city pay for him to be out there or does the college pay for him to be out there? And, if the college pays for him to be out there, what right does he have to stop traffic and keep us from getting down the road? Thanks.
RW: The officer in front of Wesleyan is paid by the college. He's an off-duty Virginia Beach police officer who has been certified and sanctioned by Chief Charles Wall. All those who direct traffic in our city must be certified by the police department.
The officer (or officers) on Wesleyan, in front of the college, works from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. weekdays and has been there for about four years, according to William T. Joseph, the college's vice president of business.
The school decided to hire an officer rather than erect yet another traffic signal. A traffic signal would keep traffic stopped more often and for longer periods of time. Anyway, any student of Virginia Wesleyan will tell you what a pain in the rear it is to get on campus during rush hour.
To Billy Standford, Ada Salsbury, Kitty, Susan and Steve: Thanks for the update on Broad Meadows Boulevard being renamed Cypress Point Boulevard on the Cypress Point neighborhood side. You guys were right, Road was using an old map.
Judy Swope, No Address Given. My complaint is on the signs that are going up at parking residential areas in Virginia Beach. The problem is the city did not put the signs where they're needed, on Winston Salem Avenue, and that is the most congested place there is and they've decided that they would take the issue up in the fall.
It's horrendous. You cannot drive down it safely. If a fire engine or any large vehicle comes and if you're coming off Mediterranean you have to watch out.
The problem is the restaurants do not have ample parking, which they're supposed to have, so they put their cars on the street and the city won't do anything about it.
RW: Judy, I think you'll find that most folks haven't cleared their heads from the first wave of signs that went up down there. In fact, there were plenty of people against restricting the parking in the residential area, then there were those who liked the idea.
Either way, because the City Council has decided to take up the rest of the parking issue in the fall, then we'll have to wait.
Pamela Jurkowski, Virginia Beach. Could you please check with the engineers as to why these lights, the arrows, at Lynnhaven and Independence, and at Princess Anne and Independence and Lynnhaven still have the arrow that won't work unless there's more than a few cars. It's really annoying to sit there when you're the only car and there are no others.
RW: Road's not sure what you're saying, Pam. Are you saying that there are no green arrows here and you want them? Or, are you saying that you're sitting there when no traffic is coming, in either direction, and the light still isn't changing? If this is the case it could be that you're not pulling up far enough to hit the stop bar and trigger the side street mechanism in the road that will tell the light to switch to green.
I don't know, Pam. You'll need to give more clues on this one. 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