DATE: Friday, August 15, 1997               TAG: 9708130174

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: The Road Warrior 

                                            LENGTH:  105 lines

CITY OFFERS CHANCE TO SEE PLANS OF IMPROVED CONSTITUTION DRIVE

Break out the popcorn. Engineers are holding an informal citizens' meeting on the proposed Constitution Drive Extended project.

The meeting, from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at Thalia Elementary, 421 Thalia Road, isn't really a meeting as such.

It's just a chance for folks to wander in and take a gander at the plans to extend the roadway. Folks have 10 days after the meeting to comment on the proposed design.

Right now, the project calls for making Constitution Drive four lanes from Virginia Beach Boulevard to Bonney Road. It also involves a small bridge.

Currently, Constitution Drive dead-ends at the back of the Columbus Station neighborhood.

The project will provide an alternate route from Pembroke to Bonney Road.

The route of the improvements has not been set in stone. In fact, at this writing, there isn't even any money to pay for construction.

But, if you want to check out the preliminary plans and think you may want to toss out an idea or two, plan on attending the gathering.

Those with comments or proposals about the project can write to Phil Pullen, City of Virginia Beach, Public Works Department, City Engineers Office, Municipal Center, Virginia Beach, Va. 23456-9031.

SNARLS OF THE WEEK

The following people called Road's INFOLINE number with their complaints.

Paul Goldman, North End. Heading north on Atlantic Avenue, the Fort Story bent arrow sign, between 82nd and 83rd streets, is without question the most deceptive sign in the United States. My call is about six years late.

Anyhow, we get about a dozen to 15 cars a day coming in at 83rd Street and they're wondering where the fort is. The arrow should be straight. It's misleading and it's misguided and it's totally erroneous. Can you do something about it?

RW: Seems like this topic has come up before. Let Road talk to engineers about this and see if they can't come up with a better directional sign.

Nicole, no address given. I wanted to comment on the work being done on London Bridge Road. I just want to say that they seem to be doing it really fast and motorists really need to slow down when they get to that area to be careful of the workers out there. Thanks.

RW: Gee, bet the guys are happy to get some praise for all their work. Let me guess, your husband's on the crew?

Dickie Spruill. The turn light at the intersect of Inlynnview and Great Neck, heading west on Inlynnview, seems to be out of whack.

We have people stacking up five and six deep. I've seen people run through the light. The only time it does change is when someone's coming west on Old Donation and trips it. I would love for somebody to look at it.

It's become quite a hassle to try and get across, and I've seen some dangerous things happen.

RW: Hmm. Sounds like it could be a bad loop. Unfortunately, the engineer who has the ``bad loop list'' is out, so Road'll have to do some checking for the next column. If it's not a bad loop, sounds like the signal needs some readjusting.

Kevin, no address given. They're getting ready to put a curb cut, or they already have, at the new Rite Aid store in the right hand turn lane from Independence to Pleasure House Road. The curb cut's right in the right hand turn lane and people who are going to be turning into the drug store are going to get rear-ended. Is there any way we can do something about it? Or is this just one of these laws where the property owner has the right to have his curb cut there? Thanks, Road.

RW: Heck, Kevin. There's a curb cut there for the go-go bar, why not another for the pharmacy?

There really aren't many options for curb cuts on that corner. If they put it around the corner on Pleasure House, you're still going to have people backing up in the right lane to turn in there.

Plus, you should know that a rear-ender is possible at any curb cut and the person doing the rear-ending is the one who gets the ticket.

Billy, Virginia Beach. Please try to get the left turn arrow at Kempsville and Indian River roads extended.

At best, you can get two to three cars through there and that's if you're paying attention. That's traveling both ways on Kempsville. They really need to extend the left turn arrows.

RW: Billy, you and a small horde of people have been trying to get that extended for a long time now. Problem is the road is over capacity. The intersection there is serving too many motorists in too short a time. About the only relief in sight is when updated traffic counts are done and the timings are re-evaluated.

Nancy, no address given. My complaint is at Thoroughgood and Pleasure House roads. When you're leaving the post office there, there's an auto repair business on the left. It's got pretty bushes all around but you can't see the road.

You've got to put the nose of your car out on Pleasure House to see. Somebody's going to get hurt one day. Thank you.

RW: Sounds like a classic V/O (View Obstruction), Nancy.

Road'll report it to engineers who will drive out to see if there's a visibility problem caused by the bushes.

Joe Sutherly, Groveland Park. Read your item on wipers and lights and it was long overdue. Pleased to learn of the secondary ticketing authority.

Why is it that owners of dark-colored hard-to-see cars are reluctant to turn on their lights when they are using their wipers? Or does it just seem that way? Thank you.

RW: Road neglected to mention that folks who use their intermittent wipers don't have to have their lights on. 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.

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