Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 27, 1990 TAG: 9006270339
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Landscape architect David Hill of Hill Studio in Roanoke displayed a 33-foot map of the stretch of road from U.S. 460 to Hubbard Street.
He also used before-and-after drawings of the road on a slide projector, taking council on an imaginary drive down the future road. Hill pointed out the red flowering annuals at intersections, decorative grass growing in the shape of a sine curve along the slopes, Hokie stone inlays in the middle lane and the town's triangular logo as a pattern in the crosswalks.
"We have massaged quite an interesting plan for you," Hill said. "It's a one-and-a-half minute way to say `Hello' to visitors, unless they get stuck at a red light."
Construction to widen the 1.4-mile stretch of South Main Street from three to five lanes should be finished by the end of the year. Town officials hope to start planting sugar maples, cedar trees, shrubbery and other vegetation next spring.
First, they must raise $277,000 from the private sector - businesses, civic groups and individuals. Public Works Director Adele Schirmer, who has been coordinating the project, said there is solid support in the community for financial backing.
The town's contribution will total $311,000 - including burying the utility wires, installing streetlights, labor and maintenance.
"I think it's a very exciting project," said Mayor Roger Hedgepeth. "This will certainly give the council and the community the opportunity to demonstrate whether they do indeed want Blacksburg to have a special entrance."
Last year, Blacksburg residents split over whether to have raised and landscaped medians along the road. Council had two years previously decided to put in a flush, central turning lane.
A citizens' group raised the issue again last fall, citing aesthetics and safety concerns as reasons to put raised medians back in the plans. But the Virginia Department of Transportation already had begun construction, and changing the plans would have been costly and time consuming.
The current public/private effort is a compromise to address many of the issues raised last fall.
by CNB