THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609250117
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: 117 lines
Windsor Oaks Boulevard from Holland Road to South Independence Boulevard is under construction.
It appears that there'll be a divided four-lane roadway with a median and possibly even sidewalks there.
Road uses the term ``appears'' because Road's been trying to find out who's doing the work for the past couple of weeks. Road had heard that the work was being done by the Kmart Corporation as part of its conditional use permit in relation to the new Super Kmart that was just opened on the corner of Holland and Windsor Oaks Boulevard.
From what Road can gather, the corporation has one year to finish the roadway.
Naturally, if this information is incorrect, Road'll hear about it.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.
Nancy Kolodziej, Laurel Cove. A few months ago you said we were getting a left-turn arrow to come into the neighborhood off GREAT NECK ROAD. It isn't there yet, and I was wondering what was going on.
RW: Never fear, Nancy. The work will be done. In fact, it's starting the first weekend in October and it won't be only a left-turn signal. Engineers are revamping the area. This is the plan: They'll have dual southbound left-turn lanes from Great Neck onto First Colonial, dual rights from First Colonial onto Great Neck, a protected (arrow) left turn from Great Neck into Laurel Cove. Also, First Colonial will have a permissive/protected (green ball/green arrow) left turn and so will Laurel Cove. Engineers say the work should be finished in two weekends' time.
Joyce, Pembroke Lakes. I'm calling about the speeding problem in the 35 mph zone on WITCHDUCK ROAD. It's not just an occasional thing. It's constant - like an expressway. Going south from INDEPENDENCE and making a left turn into the apartments you can't even see around the facing left turning traffic, and cars are speeding around the curve. I never see any police enforcement in the area. Can you help?
RW: A couple of things, Joyce. Road understands the problem. Speeding is a problem on all of our streets so you aren't alone in your concern. The best and only option you have is to call the 3rd Precinct and ask for speeding enforcement in the area. Don't just ask for general enforcement; tell them what time you think speeding is the biggest problem because they're not going to send an officer out to sit there all day. You have a better chance if you can pinpoint the worst times. As for the left-turners that face you, all of our intersections are set up essentially the same way. That's why sometimes it's best just to wait until you get a green arrow to make your left. Sorry Road couldn't be more of a help but there's just not much that can be done, other than police enforcement.
Jim Flanagan, no address given. I'm calling about the stoplight indicator on PROSPERITY ROAD. Unless there's a car actually sitting there, the light doesn't change. When you're coming from OCEANA BOULEVARD down PROSPERITY and you're waiting for the light to get onto GENERAL BOOTH, unless you're waiting on the indicator the light won't change. You end up having to run the red light to get through there.
RW: OK, Jim. Unless Road's reading you wrong, Road thinks it's time for a lesson in TRAFFIC LIGHTS 101.
A loop detector, or indicator as you have called it, is supposed to do what you're saying it's doing. The detector is there to detect a car's presence and when that happens, the light will switch to green in that direction.
Now, if a car's not sitting there, the loop detector can tell no one is there and won't switch over. So, you see, the detector is behaving just as it should. My advice to you is if you want a green light, make sure you're on the detector.
Bob Rowlands, Pine Meadows. My problem is OCEANA and SOUTHERN boulevards. If you're trying to make that left turn off Oceana onto Southern Boulevard, traffic backs up so far. I'm sure you've been stuck in it. The only problem is that chunk of concrete on the right side of the railroad that hasn't been used for years. I'm sure somebody would volunteer with a wrecker to pull it out. I'd volunteer my time to rake out the asphalt and press it down. Why hasn't the City Council done anything about this? It would alleviate a lot of backups. I'm sure a lot of other people would help, too. It'd be a great improvement and increase traffic flow by 300 percent.
And another thought. I was wondering why the police aren't in charge of the poor little dead critters on the road? Who better with their flashing emergency lights and everything to be able to shovel a dead animal that's a traffic hazard out of the way?
I've seen police drive by dead animals time and time again and I think that should be part of their job. They're the only ones who can safely pull over and clean it up.
RW: In response to your first question, the concrete you speak of is probably part of the railroad's right of way. Anyhow there'll be no need to dig that concrete out if First Colonial Phase 3 comes that way.
According to the 1995-96 Capital Improvement Program, First Colonial is scheduled to be widened to a four-lane highway from Virginia Beach Boulevard along a new alignment through Oceana Gardens to Oceana Boulevard and continuing on to General Booth Boulevard, about 3.4 miles.
This project also calls for a new alignment south of Harpers Road, eliminating the merge at General Booth by widening Prosperity and improving the intersection at General Booth.
Sounds great, eh? Well, don't get your hopes up too high. This project has been delayed because now there's some discussion about how the Southeastern Parkway and Greenbelt will affect the area. Road'll let you know the dates as soon as a decision has been made.
As for your second concern, there's no way we should waste a good officer on road kill cleanup duty.
There are Animal Control officers specially trained and equipped for the work.
Andy Bowles, no address given. We've been doing a lot of work at the North End of the beach, on the oceanfront side, and found out you have to really know every single road up there to get out onto ATLANTIC AVENUE. At 54th and 53rd streets, it's impossible to see to turn left or right onto Atlantic. Wonder if the city has any plans to clean that up down there? That area is just unbelievable. You can't even see in the closest lanes let alone the furthest lanes away from you.
RW: You described the problem, Andy, but you didn't say what was blocking the view? A house? Construction machinery? What? Call Road back with more details. 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