THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996 TAG: 9602080135
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: The Road Warrior
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 124 lines
When it comes to snow removal, the city does have its priorities.
The 150 folks in the Operations Department who handled this latest round of white stuff worked for three days on 12-hour shifts to clear overpasses, bridges, main and side streets.
You may not have seen the big trucks outfitted with snow plows and spreaders in your neighborhood because residential streets are left to the residents.
The first concern these folks face is opening access to hospitals and fire and police departments. The second priority is clearing main streets like Virginia Beach and Independence boulevards.
Once the main streets are passable, city employees begin clearing the side, or collector, streets like South Plaza Trail and South Lynnhaven Road.
Operations Department supervisor Timothy R. Berkhimer explained to Road Warrior this week how the troops were deployed and added that they got some unexpected help from an anonymous Good Samaritan.
He says early Sunday a truck was sent to the ``county'' to clear Princess Anne Road. When the truck arrived, workers saw a dump truck outfitted with a snow plow already plowing the road clear of snow.
Baffled, the workers called command central to ask who'd been contracted to do the work.
They were stunned to learn no one had been contracted and that no one knew who the mysterious dump truck driver was.
They were advised that the guy must have been plowing Princess Anne Road out of the goodness of his heart and to let him do it.
And, they did.
Road offers 10 cheers to the Good Samaritan who plowed Princess Anne Road Sunday.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Ron Wickle, Salem Woods. I've called the city for three months over the intersection of LYNNHAVEN PARKWAY and ROUNDHILL DRIVE.
It seems when a small portion of Lynnhaven Parkway was paved it shut down the underground sensors that control the lights. The city says it will eventually fix it and that was over three months ago. It's obvious it's no priority to fix, but at least turn off those left-turn signals.
RW: Unfortunately, Ron, you can't just turn off one function of a light. The whole thing would have to be turned off. Anyway, about your gripe, Roundhill is on the city's list of things to do and fix, so they know the problem's there. But there's no telling how long it will be before they can get someone to fix it because the department that handles these calls is overtaxed and under-staffed. Aren't we all?
Jack Begley, no address given. Heading northbound on INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD, over in the right lane near the overpass abutment, there used to be a barrier there then someone ran into it and it's been taken away. There's no reflectors, no flashing lights or anything to warn drivers that it's there. Someone's going to get killed. Fix it, please, Road Warrior. Charge on!
RW: Road will be happy to do that for you, Jack, but Road left the hammer at home today and thank goodness because that would be a big job.
You're right, someone did plow into it and it's been taken away. Or, at least what was left of it was taken away (after leaning haphazardly into one lane for several weeks). Recently, Road Warrior saw that city workers had put three bright orange cones in front of the concrete post. Even more recently, they filled three big trash cans with sand and put those out there. Road's certain they're waiting for the new parts of the guard rail to arrive.
John Maples, Bellamy Manor Estates. In regards to LOCKE LANE and KEMPSVILLE ROAD, at 3:30 a.m. it should be a constant green for Kempsville Road, but it's not. You have to stop and wait for the left-turn light to cycle before you can go through. See if you can't get the engineers to fix that.
RW: Sounds like yet another bad sensor. Engineers are going to send someone out to check on it. But be sure you read Ron Wickle's concerns elsewhere in this report because it could be several months before that happens.
Sandy, Virginia Beach. Most people on the interstates are blind. They don't see signs that read 55 mph or that the shoulder's closed. It's bad enough that you almost get run over on ROUTE 44, but what really irks me is the people driving on the shoulder heading north after you pass Witchduck Road where you have to merge to get to I-64. I was almost run over by a bus.
They need to set up some type of surveillance cameras or something to catch these people.
I'd be more than happy to write down license plate numbers and call them in.
RW: Those who follow the laws of the road are surely the ones who advocate the use of cameras as enforcement tools. Go, girl.
The following wrote to Road:
Michael Kowatch, Malibu. I would like to comment on the article that discussed parking school buses on city streets. Buses should not be allowed to park at home. What will the committee's next crucial decision be? Allowing the city garbage trucks to come home with their drivers? Do the non-bus driving committee members have to deal with buses on their street? I don't think so.
School buses are not only unsightly, they are a real safety hazard. School buses parked on already narrow residential streets pose a serious safety hazard to scores of children and motorists alike. They obstruct the view of motorists and ``attentive'' children. I think most level-headed people can see the potential problems arising from this. So why does the city insist on letting drivers park at home?
I feel it's just a matter of time before the unthinkable happens. It would be a shame to allow a tragedy to occur just because a little extra time wasn't taken to park the buses where they really should be parked. At the risk of starting a feud with my neighbor, I think bus drivers should have to experience the morning commute to and from work like the rest of us. One final thought. If it's OK to park buses on our streets, why can't we park our motor homes and boats on city streets?
RW: Well, Michael, bus drivers have been allowed to drive their buses home as a perk of the job. These folks don't make diddly to drive these buses and being able to use the bus as transportation to and from work has always been an added benefit.
As for motor homes and boats on city streets, I guess that was one area the city was willing and able to tackle. Those vehicles are considered recreation and not necessarily pertinent to someone's livelihood.
Beyond that, there isn't much Road Warrior has to say on the issue. It's up to citizens like yourself to make your voices heard. And, of course, the bus drivers also deserve a voice. 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