THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 18, 1994 TAG: 9411170226
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Like a vampire, the proposal to build the Southeastern Expressway between Chesapeake and Virginia Beach keeps rising from the grave and haunting our sleep. But Chesapeake citizens have an opportunity next week to drive a stake through its heart - once and for all.
The state Department of Transportation will conduct yet another hearing on the expressway proposal from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Holiday Inn at Greenbrier. Expectations are that citizens who oppose the multimillion-dollar boondoggle will come with fangs exposed to highway officials.
It's not that residents don't want new roads. Just last week, voters overwhelmingly approved $76.9 million worth of bonds to improve the city's overburdened transportation system.
But common sense tells them that a 20-mile loop from the intersection of Interstates 64 and 264 in Chesapeake to Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach is not a road that's needed just now. It would be expensive and disruptive to build and probably wouldn't do much to improve the lot of motorists. The money would be better spent on improving major arteries, such as Routes 17 and 168.
The City Council has already made up its mind about the proposal. It was ready to reject the road Tuesday night, but postponed its decision until after Monday's public hearing, graciously offering citizens the honor of administering the coup de grace.
May they strike well.
KEYWORDS: SOUTHEASTERN EXPRESSWAY
by CNB