
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, May 21, 1990                   TAG: 9005210302
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC PLAN WORKS WELL

Changes have been made in the timing of some traffic signals in downtown Roanoke since the Jefferson Street leg of the Hunter Viaduct was closed two weeks ago, but no major revisions have been required to handle the traffic.

Bob Bengtson, city traffic engineer, said today the interim plan for handling downtown traffic seems to be working smoothly.

"It seems to be going very well, based on our observations and the comments we hear from motorists," Bengtson said.

City officials will continue to monitor traffic patterns and make changes if they are needed, he said.

The viaduct leg has been razed to provide a site for the 20-story Dominion Tower at Jefferson Street and Salem Avenue.

Construction began last week on the building, which will have 205,868 square feet of office space and will be 320 feet high - the tallest structure in downtown. The $40-million project will include a six-level parking garage in the office building and an adjoining wing garage.

Dominion Bankshares Corp., for which the building is named, will occupy 90,000 square feet. The building is a project of Faison Associates of Charlotte, N.C., the developer of Valley View Mall.

Meanwhile, the city will hold a public hearing Tuesday night on the design and location for a proposed four-lane bridge over the Second Street railroad crossing and other street improvements that will be part of a downtown loop system.

The hearing will be at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber in the Municipal Building.

City officials also will be available in Room 159 in the Municipal Building from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today to review the plans with property owners who would be affected by the project.

The bridge will extend from the Henry Street revival area to Salem Avenue.

The $9.5 million project will also include improvements to Gainsboro Road and Wells Avenue.

Bengtson said the schedule calls for construction on the new bridge and other improvements to begin in December and be finished by Jan. 1, 1992.

by CNB