THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503240020
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
I have been following the discussions concerning the ``electronic billboard'' proposed for Waterside Drive. Thus far I have seen no reference to what ought to be a critical issue here - traffic.
Lost in the rhetoric over alleged racism and desecration of the carefully guarded appearance of one of the area's largest tourist attractions is the potential for disruption of traffic flow on one of the main ingress/egress routes to the downtown area.
Imagine if you will the traffic from Tidewater Drive and I-264 merging into the funnel that is Waterside Drive at speeds that vary from 35 to 50 miles per hour as it does continuously. Then imagine two drivers being distracted by the sign, one of whom subconsciously slows down as he looks over, the other who maintains his speed but still shifts his attention to the sign and away from his driving. An accident is waiting to happen.
I don't want my city to make itself a party to an enterprise which, in today's litigious society, is ripe for costs to the city far exceeding any monetary gain from approval of the sign.
W. C. HARMON
Norfolk, March 22 1995 by CNB