THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607250146
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: The Road Warrior
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: 103 lines
It's time for the ``same old song and dance.'' You know, the one where a project's completion date is changed. And changed. And changed with no end in sight.
That's exactly what has happened with Military Highway. Construction started in 1992 to widen the road to eight lanes from just past the Norfolk city limits to Indian River Road and then widen it to six lanes heading south from Indian River Road to the Chesapeake city line.
Well, four years later, Military Highway is still the biggest mess this city has going.
Road took a ride out to Military Highway this week and man, someone should be held accountable for what's going on there.
First, only two lanes are operational in each direction and those lanes are riddled with dips and bumps, uneven pavement and manhole covers that sit way above the road's normal height. Big sections of road haven't even been paved while others can't be driven on.
Road's never seen so many barrels and ``road closed'' and ``construction ahead'' signs before. Too bad there aren't an equal number of workers. Maybe the job would have been done last month, the third completion date the project was given, if they actually had crews working on the thing.
Seriously, from the Curlew Drive traffic signal, north or south, to Providence Road there were maybe four or five people working.
Road had been waiting to hear about a new completion date, but at this point, that's not necessary. After having witnessed this mess, Road can tell you that the widening of Military Highway is nowhere near done. And seeing as my money as well as yours is funding this project, Road thinks it's high time we started withholding someone's paycheck on this one.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Coz, Stratford Chase. What's the plan for the COLUMBUS LOOP area? With Planet Music, Barnes and Noble, and now Columbus 12 in there, parking is terrible. Any plans to put a traffic light at that confusing corner?
RW: There's definitely a plan to install a signal in that location, but Road can't tell you exactly when. With all the construction, it likely won't be soon. As soon as Road knows, you'll know.
Gilda, no address given. Calling about you complaining about the GENERAL BOOTH BOULEVARD change in speed limit last week.
If you're a law-abiding citizen, you deserve the ticket if you're speeding.
RW: Actually, Gilda, if you're law-abiding you wouldn't be speeding period. Road agrees, if you're speeding you're speeding. However, Road does not agree in temporary speed limit changes to suit a particular event. Road thinks this practice can be downright dangerous.
Jeffrey Katz, no address given. When you're traveling west on I-64, you come over the twin bridges, I can see the sign says the Malbon Bridge.
Down to the right, off the shoulder in the ditch there is a plaque apparently for the person who it's named for. I don't want to stop there and read it.
I'm wondering if you can find out what's written there so that we can all know. Thanks a bunch.
RW: Road's not sure of the plaque's exact wording, but Road can tell you the story behind the name change and plaque. In 1993, the Virginia Department of Transportation decided to rename the ``twin bridges'' that are side by side on I-64 after C. Roger Malbon Sr., a Virginia Beach native, former Princess Anne County sheriff, Transportation Board member and member of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Commission, to name a few.
Roger was obviously an all-around great guy, and VDOT renamed the bridges in his memory. The plaque probably says exactly that.
John Hammond, no address given. A few weeks ago, there were traffic counting cables across the intersection at OXFORD DRIVE and KINGS LAKE DRIVE.
I was hoping that a traffic count would result in a change from the present illogical two-way stop that stops hundreds of Kings Grant Landing homeowners on Oxford Drive daily while giving the right of way to a handful of Kings Lake drivers. The ratio must easily be 10 to 1 in favor of Oxford Drive, yet they're the ones who have to stop. Even a four-way stop would make more sense than a two-way stop that's backward to prevailing traffic. Is this going to be changed? Thanks.
RW: Apparently, John, you're not the only one who thinks this way. The city did place the traffic counters there to determine which direction has the heaviest traffic flow. They're still working on the data so Road doesn't have an answer on a switch yet. Engineers say that when the decision is determined they'll present it to the civic league, so keep an eye on your neighborhood newsletter if you have one. If not, Road'll be happy to find out once the study's done.
The following wrote to Road:
Road,
When you responded to Ms. Dembowski's comments about highway signage, you said ``the overhead signs on I-64 and ROUTE 44 are doing a decent job'' and that you saw an accident heading east on Route 44. Now, I ask you, did the warning indicate whether the accident warning was a green, frizzie-haired juvenile in a red pickup weaving in and out of traffic or some yahoo with a cellular phone in the ear, tailgating, speeding, riding the lines between the lanes and otherwise, just not paying attention? Just razzing you. Enjoy reading your articles. Keep up the good work.
Ron Brendle
Princess Anne Plaza
RW: Ha, ha. Good one, Ron. You should have this job. 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