THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 10, 1995 TAG: 9503090168
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
Road has new insights on Norfolk commuters, the city's roads and the folks who travel I-64 daily.
Let me give you some background. Road and the family are in temporary quarters in Norfolk. We've spent one week deep in the guts of downtown and, man, what an eye-opener!
Road's first observation upon driving from downtown Norfolk every day to Virginia Beach is that everyone coming out of Norfolk in the morning must still be asleep.
Almost no one does the speed limit. Road's not saying they're going too fast. On the contrary, these folks poke along at 45 and 50 mph.
There was one guy driving a cherry-red Z28 who did the speed limit and more. He was in the fast lane, probably hitting 80 mph when he flew by. The stenciled sign on his back window was appropriate. It said: ``I know. I know. Pull over.''
Anyway, another thing about Norfolk is all the one-way streets. Man, those things are a headache. Road actually witnessed one car take a right from Bute Street and try and go up Boush Street the wrong way. Hey, Road didn't blame the fella. All those one-way streets can be confusing.
And traffic signals? The efficiency seems pretty decent, but who in the world stuck those things on the side of the road at waist level? The things are downright dangerous to those of us who aren't used to them.
And parking? Road swears Norfolk motorists think bumpers are to be used as a space gauge and not for accident protection.
Of course, none of this means that Norfolkians aren't nice. They just drive differently.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Len Hudson, Weaverville. Coming off TIMBERLAKE trying to get to the main road on PRINCESS ANNE, we need a left-turn light there so we can turn onto Princess Anne.
The traffic backs up and I can't get out on the road. The light's down to about 15 seconds now. I think they've retimed it.
That left-hand turn light sure would help this neighborhood.
RW: Well, Len, Road has bad news for you. Engineers say that the intersection isn't scheduled for a left-turn arrow anytime soon. The signal retiming project, CMAQ, did hit that particular signal so the timings could be slightly different. But, again, engineers who have sat and watched the area during peak times say that the light is operating efficiently and that those who are making a left on a circular green can clear the intersection within one to two light cycles.
Now, once South Plaza Trail is finished and cuts through to Princess Anne, lots of folks will have an alternate route and the congestion during peak times should die down, allowing folks to make that green with no problem.
Chris Smith, no address given. I wanted to alert you to a possible speed trap the city set up on GENERAL BOOTH BOULEVARD.
As you proceed north, the speed changes from 55 mph in the Dam Neck area to 45 mph somewhere around Birdneck to 35 mph somewhere around Camp Pendleton and then just a couple of blocks later it goes right down to 25 mph just south of the Rudee Inlet Bridge.
I live in this area and I've seen them set up on Grace and Hobart and it's very fertile ground.
That's not right to have them reducing the speed limit four times like that in such a short space. Check it out and let people know.
RW: A speed trap isn't a trap if everyone knows about it and, thanks to you Chris, lots of folks know now. Anyway, there are legitimate reasons for the variation in speed. First, the speed is 55 mph in an area that is not heavily congested and it drops down in areas that are commercial and full of neighborhood or recreational facilities, like the Virginia Marine Science Museum. Engineers say there is no big conspiracy here, just a matter of common sense.
B.C., no address given. I'm calling in reference to LORD DUNMORE DRIVE in Fairfield. It seems to me that all the stop signs were put there to deter people from using it as it a thoroughfare. This could be improved by the addition of a ``no U-turn'' sign at Princess Anne and Overland where people cut through from Fairfield Shopping Center to go all the way to Princess Anne Road, turn right, and then they go up and make a U-turn. It causes a big bottleneck there in front of Kellum Funeral Home.
RW: City engineers say the bottleneck isn't from people cutting through the neighborhood. The bottleneck is at the intersection of Kempsville and Princess Anne roads and until there is some solution for that problem, all surrounding areas will continue to experience congestion problems. That doesn't mean the city's being closed-minded about the area. In fact, Road has heard that there is some talk of what to do with that area. Several options are pending, none of which have officially been considered. When Road knows, you'll know.
Robert Lush, Virginia Beach. In reference to FIRST COLONIAL ROAD north of Laskin and which left-turn light wasn't cycling correctly, it's First Colonial and WOLFSNARE that the left-turn light always goes on and you have to wait for a green.
Also, is anything going to be done about WILDWOOD DRIVE going west? It's really narrow and there's no sidewalk and when I walk up there in the evenings I get forced off the road.
RW: In reference to your first comment - you're right. It's the loops at the intersection of First Colonial and Wolfsnare. The signal's currently being rebuilt. The signal at Laurel Avenue and First Colonial also has the same problem with the loops and is also being rebuilt. So if you answered Wolfsnare or Laurel Avenue, you were right on both counts.
As for Wildwood Drive, there are a lot of things going on over there this month. There is talk of the city trying to obtain some property there. If and when that happens, there's a good chance sidewalks will be built. But, again, all this is up in the air. It's something that Road has heard through the grapevine and nothing that could be confirmed. And, in case anyone else has a sidewalk question, the folks who handle those concerns work in the highway division of the city. Their number is 427-7440.
Dr. James Pooch, Wildwood Drive. I'm really concerned about the people exceeding the speed limit on WILDWOOD. Is there some way to get a yield sign or stop sign put at the intersection of Old Cutler and Wildwood to slow these people down? Wildwood seems to be a thoroughfare for a lot of people.
RW: A lot of people have the misconception that a stop sign will stop speeders. If they're stupid enough to break the law by speeding, these types won't think twice about running a stop sign. Basically, you'd be stopping two speeders at the cost of about 1,000 others. 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. Or, write: The Road Warrior, Virginia Beach Beacon, 4565
Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va. 23462.
by CNB