THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512210157
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: The Road Warrior
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines
Anyone notice the mangled mess that was a guardrail heading north on Independence?
This particular rail helps to separate the straight through lanes from the on and off ramp lanes of Route 44.
It seems every time Road goes by this area that rail has been smashed and then propped back up, accordion style.
We all know there's a serious problem there with folks cutting over at the last minute to get to the Route 44 ramp side. It happens nearly every day and is downright irritating to those of us already in our chosen lane.
Those late breakers back the traffic up something terrible. And, it seems, they're also doing some serious damage to that guardrail.
That damage is costing someone a pretty penny and, for once, taxpayers aren't footing the bill. At least, not all of us are.
According to the city's Operations Department, three people have been billed for hitting and damaging some part of that rail.
To replace the whole rail - nuts, bolts, concrete casings and all - it costs about $12,000 and that's no joke. No one has had to pay for the whole thing yet, but, by the looks of its condition this week, we could have a buyer.
It's so expensive because it's a special type of guardrail called an Impact Attenuator that has foam-filled cushions behind the steel to soften the impact of a crash.
So, next time you think about cutting over at the last minute on Independence Boulevard, you may want to remember the hefty price tag that could come if your maneuver isn't completed successfully.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Mason Gammage, Rudee Inlet. My problem is the no right turns on red.
Recently I returned from a more busy resort, Fort Lauderdale, where right turn on red is legal.
Their signs say, ``turn right on red if no pedestrians in the crosswalk.''
An unbusy oceanfront has no right having no right on reds in the dead of winter or even in the dead of night.
RW: Engineers are currently studying the possibility of changing the right turn on red situations at 5th, 9th and 19th streets. They're thinking about changing the signs to read something like what you've suggested, Mason. If the change is successful it could mean a change for all right turn on reds down at the Oceanfront. We'll see.
Susan Potter, no address given. Every day on PROVIDENCE ROAD I go past the new INDIAN LAKES BOULEVARD EXTENSION through Indian Lakes.
It's been painted, the curbing is up, the sidewalks are up and it's been sitting there barricaded for six weeks. It'd save me five minutes every day if I could use that road.
Is the barricade crew just not scheduled to come until February? Thanks a lot.
RW: According to Road's information, that road was opened last week. It seems the opening was delayed because Virginia Power needed to come out and get the juice flowing so the light would work.
Tiffani, Kempsville. What are those mysterious objects on the poles by the traffic signals? There's one at VIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD and INDEPENDENCE and one a little further on COLUMBUS and INDEPENDENCE.
They're hanging up near the lights. If they are the new camera system, are they installed now and can motorists be ticketed for going through a yellow light there?
RW: Nope, they're not cameras. They're pre-emption devices that the fire and rescue departments use to change a light as they're coming up to it in an emergency. They have something similar to a remote control in their vehicle and when they hit the button that sensor near the light switches to give everyone a red so the emergency folks can pass through safely. They're installed in several areas of the city.
Michael Ammann, no address given. I wrote six months ago concerning a turning lane at OCEANA BOULEVARD and SOUTHERN BOULEVARD near the railroad tracks. I never did see if there was a response. Just curious if the city's willing to do anything about it.
RW: The only changes that could occur in this area would be part of the First Colonial Road Phase III project.
The proposed project includes First Colonial Road being realigned south of Virginia Beach Boulevard, heading southeast to connect with Oceana Boulevard in the northeast portion of Oceana Naval Air Station. Oceana will no longer merge with General Booth but instead will come in where Prosperity is now.
First Colonial will be a much bigger road and a major corridor at that point and engineers believe the majority of the traffic won't find it necessary to use Southern Boulevard as a cut-through any longer. The project's still in the design stage so it could be a couple of years.
Joy, no address given. I'm just really fed up with the traffic on Route 44 and I-64. It's driving me absolutely nuts to drive it every day.
RW: We can all relate to that feeling, Joy.
Jeff, no address given. The question I have is what is the law regarding the parking of school buses on public streets?
It's very unsafe and what are our city officials doing about it?
Everyone else has to drive to work - why can't they park at the school and drive to get their bus? Thanks a lot.
RW: As of this writing, Jeff, there is no law about school buses parking on city streets. Engineers, however, do check out buses that are parking on residential streets and creating a traffic hazard. If the bus location is in fact deemed hazardous, the driver is asked to park elsewhere.
This has been a long-running debate in our city and it seems that Road heard something about a commission forming to study this problem. Though, Road hasn't heard another word since. Maybe it's time to do some checking. Road'll let you know what I find out. 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