THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503170177
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
The city of Suffolk on Wednesday announced its road priorities for the 1995 transportation funding process, hoping against hope that the widening of Nansemond Parkway is funded sooner than later.
The road is to be one of the main arteries to the proposed industrial park and race track, at the intersection of Nansemond Parkway and Shoulders Hill Road. Local residents have complained that their lives will be disrupted by increased traffic if the road remains a two-lane thoroughfare.
The road was moved up on the city's priority list after the industrial park and race track were approved in January by the Suffolk City Council. But a lack of state funding, coupled with the road's late entry onto the state's six-year improvement process, doesn't bode well for improvements there anytime soon.
The city's recommendations also include the following projects:
Route 13/32 Suffolk Bypass - The city ranks this project at the top of its list, saying the unfunded road is a vital link in the city's transportation system.
The city says the road would also benefit the region by reducing travel time for port traffic coming to and from North Carolina. The road is also said to reduce congestion in Suffolk's downtown.
Route 13/32 Expansion to four lanes from Route 13/32 intersection to the Whaleyville border - Because of this project's size and importance to increasing traffic flow from North Carolina, the city is trying to find even a little funding.
The project has been partially funded by regional transportation planners because North Carolina has fully funded a similar widening on its side of the border.
Route 10 improvements - These improvements would add to the widening of the road up to the north side of the Reid's Ferry Bridge. These proposed improvements would run north from the bridge to the Isle of Wight border.
North/South connector - This project is becoming more and more important to the city as development takes hold in North Suffolk.
In order to protect this project's right of way, the city feels this is a high priority. The city has purchased a 60-foot right of way from the Chesapeake border to Route 337 at Magnolia.
Suffolk city officials will present these recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Board on April 3.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL ROAD CONSTRUCTION
by CNB