THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 5, 1995 TAG: 9510030092
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Concerning the MacArthur Center project downtown: If they haven't planned for lots and lots of free parking as part of the center, don't turn over the first shovelful of dirt to start construction.
Nobody will be attracted to the stores, I don't care how famous they may be, if they have to pay for parking when they can so easily go to a shopping center nearer to home that offers free parking.
Someone better be listening or Norfolk will have another big elephant on its hands that can't pay for itself.
Elbert D. Potter
Virginian Drive Tunnel's lights a hazard
I am writing in regard to the lighting system in the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. I am aware that the brighter lights added at the entrances to the tunnels are supposed to help with the transition of entering the tunnels after being in the sunlight.
However, I am confused about the timing of these lights. While these lights may be effective in the daytime, they are a hazard at night when you come into the tunnel from the dark and suddenly encounter bright lights in your eyes. As someone who drives through the tunnels as many as six days a week, sometimes twice a day, I am concerned since I have encountered these bright lights on several occasions in the evening or after dark.
I would like to know if these lights are manually switched on and off or if there is some kind of timing device used to control them. In either case, tunnel officials need to pay more attention to the timing of these lights. Surely there must be a better way of controlling these lights so that they can be effective when needed during the day and yet not cause problems for drivers at night.
Linda Brown
Beachview Street by CNB