Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 3, 1990 TAG: 9003032957
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Both governments endorsed Route 3A, a new road that would run parallel to and just east of U.S. 460.
But the supervisors went further, also endorsing Route 6, one of the proposed Blacksburg-Roanoke links.
The vote on the resolution by Supervisor Henry Jablonski was 5-2, with Chairwoman Ann Hess and Supervisor Joe Stewart dissenting.
Hess supported just 3A because Route 6 would involve taking land from special districts set up to preserve farm and forest land.
But Supervisor Todd Solberg said that had been done before.
A limited-access road, by curtailing development, also might help preserve the scenic area, he added.
Route 6 would begin at Interstate 81 near the Virginia 641 overpass and run northwest to the southern town limit of Blacksburg.
Although the supervisors supported Route 6, they opposed one of its provisions - widening the existing U.S. 460 to eight lanes.
Presumably, that would not be necessary if 3A also were built.
Constructing both the six-lane 3A and four-lane Route 6 would cost up to $222 million.
But Dan Brugh, resident engineer for the Department of Transportation, said it might be possible to build fewer lanes at first, substantially decreasing the initial cost.
Christiansburg officials stressed that they, too, support a Blacksburg-Roanoke link.
But Route 3A best serves their goal of relieving traffic congestion in the valley, and also would provide better access between Blacksburg and the Roanoke Valley, they said.
by CNB