Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 20, 1994 TAG: 9402180054
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
For those who commute between the New River and Roanoke valleys and like a less-traveled route, Interstate 81's the road not taken. Or U.S. 460 between Blacksburg and Christiansburg.
During their daily grind, it's the back roads of Montgomery County that make all the difference.
Rural routes allow commuters to avoid the heart-attack arterial highways.
But it's not an ideal arrangement. Back roads were originally designed for horses and buggies - not heavy traffic.
Folk who live along the way don't appreciate impatient commuters in little Japanese cars whizzing by and slinging gravel at their lawn sculptures.
On the other hand, bread-winning commuters find the relatively remote back roads narrow, twisting and dangerous.
It's true the landscape allows many avenues off the beaten path for travel between the Roanoke and New River valleys.
It's also true that most adventuresome drivers will swear their pet back-road routes save precious minutes - which, accumulated over the span of months and years, add up to more recovery time from the daily grind.
Each road has its own geographical pros and cons. Here's a narrative map of the various ways people come and go.
\ INTERSTATE 81: No need to visit Pamplona, Spain, to run with the raging bulls if you drive the big ribbon daily.
There's plenty of anxiety and terror when a huge tractor-trailer tailgates your compact car headed down Christiansburg mountain.
No doubt, I-81 has higher speed limits and gets the best road maintenance during bad weather. And the mountainous scenery's nice.
That's because I-81 runs nowhere near civilization, much less where commuters live or work. It's a long way from Radford and even farther from Blacksburg.
\ U.S. 460: Life in the slow lane is the pace of this outgrown primary highway. It's four-laned all the way and all the traffic's on the interstate.
Plus, you can really floor it on the Elliston flats. But watch for those state troopers headed to and from their headquarters near Glenvar.
If you can avoid the commercial gantlet at West Salem - by getting on or off I-81 at Dixie Caverns - then U.S. 460's a pretty, peaceful ride.
\ DEN HILL ROAD (Virginia 641): One way to avoid the commercial strip between Christiansburg and Blacksburg. Some savvy commuters will take Den Hill Road to Ellett and then head over to U.S. 460.
But Den Hill Road is quite narrow, particularly at the Norfolk Southern Railway underpass, which seems barely wide enough for one car.
And the residents of "God's Country" aren't happy about the traffic. That's why the sign along Den Hill Road says, "Slow the hell down."
\ NORTH FORK ROAD (Virginia 603): The direct route from Blacksburg to I-81 at Ironto. It generally follows the railroad right of way, and they usually build railroads in the best place.
However, North Fork Road is curvy and narrow. And you have to cross active railroad tracks twice, which means lengthy coal trains can delay your journey, big-time.
There was a fatal accident last year along the road. It is miraculous more wrecks haven't occurred, considering how some people drive.
On the upbeat side, North Fork Road goes right by the pizza place at the Mountain View Market.
\ BLACKSBURG-CATAWBA ROAD (Virginia 785): This would be a lovely road if we could just get the darned automobiles off.
The road passes through a beautiful narrow valley and crosses the Appalachian Trail. It's designated as part of America's transcontinental bicycle trail.
You can get carsick on the bumpy pavement, though. That's not very desirable if you're heading to or from a big meal at The Homeplace restaurant near Catawba.
Virginia 785 easily connects commuters to downtown Blacksburg. The inconvenience arises on the other end, at Virginia 311, which is still a long haul over Catawba Mountain to Roanoke or Salem.
\ MOUNT TABOR ROAD (Virginia 624): A nice, scenic drive - and fairly straight, too, compared with the other roads.
This is a popular means of getting to and from the north side of Blacksburg. Once again, however, the Mount Tabor Road intersects Virginia 311 even farther from Roanoke or Salem than Virginia 785.
But it's a good way to reach New Castle - should you ever need to.
For commuters, Mount Tabor Road is iffy. For rock climbers, it's absolutely the best way to get from Blacksburg to Dragon's Tooth.
\ BRADSHAW ROAD (Virginia 629 and 622): Another way to avoid either interstate or primary highways, but not very convenient.
Bradshaw Road is another narrow valley drive, with relatively little traffic. Its benefit is that, unlike the Mount Tabor or Catawba roads, you can reach Roanoke or Salem without having to cross steep Catawba Mountain.
Still, you have to use both Bradshaw and North Fork roads to make this way work. That's a backroads double-whammy, recommended only to the anti-social commuter.
by CNB