Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 16, 1993 TAG: 9311170253
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: EDITORIAL EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By CHARLES F. AUSTIN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Grayson County has industry and a new industrial park. However, we have no four-lane roads. We're in desperate need of such roads that would be suitable for truck traffic. Grayson County is landlocked because of inadequate roads for the transporting of manufactured products into and out of the area.
The town of Independence has the following industries: Nautilus, Compair-Kellogg, Robertshaw Controls, DARCO Southern, McAllister Mills, ITF, Grayson Garment Co., and Parsons & Rives. Each of them has problems getting large trucks in and out of the area.
We in Southwest Virginia were very pleased when the legislature passed the U.S. 58 revenue bonds, funding roads for economic development in Southwest Virginia.
As far as the idea of U.S. 58 connecting with Interstates 77 and 81 to go east and west, the interstates have generated more traffic through Wythe County than they can now handle. I cannot imagine what additional traffic problems would do to that area.
I'd recommend that you talk to the people of the Mount Rogers-Whitetop area. The majority of them would welcome a four-lane road. This same opinion would be found with the majority of other citizens of Grayson County.
The people of Grayson County, just as others in the commonwealth, must depend upon good roads to get them to and from work, access to medical care, and to transport their children safely to and from school.
People in rural areas of Southwest Virginia have the same needs as those in other parts of the state. We feel very strongly that our taxes, votes and needs should weigh the same as those in other parts of Virginia.
Charles F. Austin is mayor of Independence.
by CNB