Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 5, 1993 TAG: 9308050156
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Construction to widen the road to four lanes and extend it 0.7 miles between Franklin and West Main streets is estimated to cost $5.7 million and may begin in the spring of 1994, the Virginia Department of Transportation said.
The project, planned for nearly 20 years and supported by emergency crews and county schools, drew sharp criticism from citizens who attended a public hearing earlier this year.
Proponents believe that widening Depot Street will ease traffic problems downtown.
But public opposition at the Feb. 16 hearing was unanimous. Depot Street residents and business owners said that a four-lane road would bring congestion and speeding traffic.
Despite those concerns, Town Council voted 6-1 to approve the project.
Town Manager John Lemley said an improved Depot Street will better direct traffic headed from the Virginia 8/Interstate 81 interchange through Christiansburg, lessening downtown traffic as a result.
"It will relieve congestion. This project's not going to increase traffic on Main Street," he said.
The Depot Street improvements will necessitate removal of five structures: a garage at Franklin Street, an office at Radford Street, a municipal storage building at Sheltman Street and two residences near the road's extention to West Main Street, the state Transportation Department said.
Depot Street will not be closed during construction, which will last from a year to 18 months, he said.
The new four-lane roadway will add a curb and gutter to Depot Street, along with 5-foot sidewalks on both sides.
Depot Street carried about 8,000 vehicles daily, according to a 1991 Transportation Department survey. The state projects traffic to increase to 13,000 vehicles a day by 1996 and to 19,000 by 2017.
by CNB