THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 23, 1996 TAG: 9608220147
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: 115 lines
Road's in the mood to nitpick; hope you are, too.
First, for some of you knuckleheads attending concerts at the amphitheater: Why do you folks insist on backing up on Princess Anne Road, waiting to turn right onto Concert Drive when Dam Neck Road is a perfectly fine entrance and exit to the amphitheater? Road'll let you in on a secret - there's hardly ever a backup getting into the amphitheater this way.
If you truly don't know where you're going other than you're heading down Princess Anne Road, swing around traffic backing up in the right lane and go to the traffic signal at Dam Neck Road and take a right. The parking's great and, hey, guess what? There's no waiting.
Also, 10 lashes with a wet noodle to City Council members who approved (without input from engineers) the addition of a traffic signal on Holland Road at the new Super Kmart. There's already a traffic signal right in front of the place at Windsor Oaks Boulevard. Was it really necessary to approve, as part of the whole Kmart development package, yet another signal a block away?
Oh, and 10 points for wisdom to the State Police for using the former toll plaza area as an inspection station for trucks heading east. It doesn't take a genius to realize that Virginia Beach Boulevard and Bonney Road are perfect alternatives for truckers on the lam.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Bobby Oakley, North End. I've got a problem with the light at BAYSIDE and DIAMOND SPRINGS roads. It's got a bad loop that's been out since February. I called three or four times trying to get it fixed. The city keeps saying it's a bad loop but it seems like they could have gotten a loop fixed by now. The turn lanes on Diamond Springs activate by themselves when no one's sitting in the lane.
Also, there are speed bumps on ROUTE 44, east and west. Once you're past the old toll booth, it seems like they could do something about those. Jars your teeth every time you come across those things. Maybe you can help us out.
RW: Replacing a loop requires a lot of work, Bob, with the biggest obstacle being moving traffic.
Workers have to go out set up traffic control signs, saw-cut the asphalt, pull up the old line, lay the new wire, connect it to the conduit box and then fill the hole with epoxy. Doesn't sound like much and it probably isn't in the whole scheme of things but you have to remember the list of intersections with bad loops is a mile long, which is probably the real reason for the delay.
As for the ``speed bumps'' on Route 44, the Virginia Department of Transportation has an ongoing project working at night to repair and replace several areas which includes the trimming of protruding asphalt.
Ceal Hawley, no address given. I'm calling in reference to the traffic light at SOUTHALL DRIVE and FIRST COLONIAL ROAD. Ever since a bank opened there, we are backed up sometimes 15 cars deep on Southall trying to get out on First Colonial. Then when you finally do get a green light, you have to sit there while three, four and five cars run the red light on First Colonial. Thank goodness we're only a couple of blocks away from the hospital. We've had a lot of accidents there. Maybe you can do something about having them check out that traffic light to reschedule it.
RW: Engineers say when the bank first opened they got a call from the administration requesting that the light be adjusted for the new traffic. That was done. Engineers also say that during rush hour, say at 5 p.m. on a Friday, traffic could still back up just because of the sheer number of vehicles.
Charles Smith, no address given. I'm calling about the particularly dangerous intersection of KEMPSVILLE GREEN PARKWAY and PRINCESS ANNE ROAD, one block south of BAXTER ROAD.
I sincerely believe we need a signal light at the intersection. There are hundreds of homes, a golf course and a church directly across the street. There have been several accidents. I would appreciate it if you could get it looked at and see if you think we need one. I believe we do.
RW: Don't hold your breath, Charles. There's a slim to none chance of getting a traffic signal there for a couple of reasons. First, there may be 100 or so residences back there but that's not enough to warrant a light. Second, with Baxter Road being so close, putting two signals within a block or two of each other is not normally a wise idea. And third, there are two entrances and exits to the area, one on Princess Anne and one on Baxter.
During peak times if you're having a hard time going out on Kempsville Green to take a left onto Princess Anne why don't you instead go out to Baxter take a left at the light there go up to the light at Princess Anne and Baxter and then take your left. Surely, it's faster than waiting for a break in the Princess Anne Road traffic. Or, go right on Princess Anne from Kempsville Green go to the light at Baxter and then make a U-turn.
P.A. McLaughlin, no address given. At the LESNER BRIDGE, where they did the construction, they left up the construction signs after they finished. Some of them they covered up and some of them they didn't. Most of the signs they covered up are uncovered now so no matter where you go you see signs. For instance, going east there's a sign that says ``right lane closed ahead.''
You go a little further and there's a merge sign that shows the left lane is closed. Heading west the other way is the same kind of mess.
Why can't get the city get out there and fix the signs? Take them down if they're finished or cover them up if they're still going to be using them.
RW: Engineers sent someone out this week to check on that very same thing. Apparently, the deal is the Virginia Department of Transportation (it's their project) is trying a new type of coating on the bridge and one or two sections have not dried like they wanted and may require a bit more work. They simply covered some signs up in case they needed to use them again. However, engineers are concerned enough that they've sent someone out to be sure they're covered adequately or taken down.
Lynn Crawford, North Hilltop Road. At the traffic light at the REGENCY HILLTOP SHOPPING CENTER on LASKIN ROAD, the loop detector is all messed up. We need to put some pressure on the city to get that repaired as soon as possible.
RW: Engineers know the detector is bad and it's on the list to be fixed. Road's just not sure how many other bad loop detectors are before it on the list. Patience, patience. 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