THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 15, 1995 TAG: 9509140136
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: The Road Warrior
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
Three weeks ago, Road began a quest to find the city's ``10 worst intersections.''
The nominations have been slowly trickling in. So slow, in fact, that we either have the best intersections around or people are just too sick and tired from driving that they can't pick up the phone to vote.
Of those who did call, two voted for Virginia Beach Boulevard and Newtown Road, two for Rosemont Road and Virginia Beach Boulevard and one for Edwin Drive and Princess Anne Road.
Not a big showing, no doubt.
Surely several other intersections are as bad or worse either by design or timing.
What about Kempsville and Princess Anne? Or Witchduck and Greenwich roads?
Need Road remind you of the hell you travel through every day?
Don't be shy. Call Road on Infoline (see number below) and nominate the intersection you love to hate most. Tell Road why it grates your nerves and give a feasible solution to the problem, if you can think of one.
The person with the brightest idea for improvement will be treated to a free call from a city engineer explaining just why the idea won't fly.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Joe McDermot, no address given. At the intersection of SOUTH LYNNHAVEN and LYME REGIS, entering the Pheasant Run or Arbor Brook/Lyme Regis apartment complexes, the traffic slows down for anyone who's coming from Silina turning left onto South Lynnhaven because of the two- to four-inch bump at the entrance to the apartment complex.
People going straight into it slow down enough so that they don't bottom-out and people behind them turning left onto South Lynnhaven have to almost stop waiting for them to go through, which slows down everyone at that light.
Maybe there's something you guys can do. Thanks.
RW: Well, Joe, Road was recently out in this area and took the time to swing by the apartment entrance to check it out.
Road didn't see any bump, although there is the smallest lip where the concrete meets the asphalt. Surely folks aren't slowing down for that, are they? If indeed we're talking about a bona fide speed bump within the complex, since it's private property, you'll need to get with the apartment's management on this problem.
Dorothy Smith, Virginia Beach. How do I get on ROUTE 58 west when I come to the end of I-64? The last time I went that way I landed on the James River Bridge. Can you help me? I really need help. Thank you.
RW: Well, Dorothy, take I-64 east heading toward Chesapeake. When you get to the end of I-64, bear left and get onto I-664 and continue for a little less than a mile where you'll come to a combined exit for routes 13, 58, and 460.
And, then as you near Suffolk Route 58 and 460 goes one way and 13 goes the other and you stick with Route 58 and 460 and there you are.
Sharon, no address given. I was calling about a turn lane in Little Neck. To go from LITTLE NECK ROAD onto HARRIS ROAD, it's a really long turn lane but the line indicating its location is solid from the beginning all the way to the end. I always thought you entered a turn lane at the broken white line? Got any comments? Bye.
RW: Yeah, Road's got a comment. It sounds like someone was asleep at the paint machine. It should have mini-skips and Road can't figure out why this lane doesn't.
When it comes to solid white lines, you are allowed to cross them but you must yield to anyone already in the lane. Now, if you get in an accident while you're crossing a solid white line, then you can be ticketed for it. The white lines are to discourage folks from changing lanes as they get close to an intersection although the act itself is not illegal.
Tom Glickman, 55 ALIVE Mature Driving. You ask why parking lights? The simple reason is in the Vehicle Code of Virginia 46.2-1037. It says you got to have them and use them when you're parked on a highway between sunset and sunrise in an unattended or attended vehicle. White light forward, red light aft.
RW: Parked on a highway? Who's allowed to park on a highway but those folks whose vehicles are disabled, in which case you'd use your emergency flashers.
Still, the question of the need for parking lights persists.
Jeff Taylor, Holland Pines West. I'm complaining about the intersection of HOLLAND ROAD where it crosses DAM NECK and LANDSTOWN. They've changed it to one through lane and two left-hand lanes onto Dam Neck. Often, nobody can read any signs up there. They continue to go through on a left-hand turn lane to go straight and then they look at you like you're crazy and you're the one that's not going in the right direction. They need to change the stripes on the southside of Dam Neck and Landstown roads because you still have to move into one lane and it looks as though the outside left-turn lane is the one that should go straight. Just wanted to get that off my chest. Thank you.
RW: People don't read signs anywhere, Jeff. With this change having been a new pattern, it's likely that it's taken folks a while to catch on.
One engineer travels this route routinely and he seems to think that people have gotten the idea of the new traffic pattern and doesn't see the need for additional pavement markings.
Brenda Johnson, no address given. My question is, why doesn't the state repair all the speed bumps on I-64?
RW: Speed bumps? Ha! Those ``speed bumps'' as you call them are actually jointed pieces of concrete that need repair. There's a rubber piece between the joints that often sticks up and creates the ``bump.'' The Virginia Department of Transportation is and has been working on concrete replacement for I-64 and 44 for months and the work will likely continue year-round. 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.
Don't forget to include your name, address and neighborhood.
by CNB