Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 6, 1994 TAG: 9405090160
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On Monday, as more than 100 cyclists roll through the area with the Tour DuPont, hundreds of motorists traveling to the city and its environs will be delayed and rerouted from their normal course because of road closings. No parking will be allowed along the cycling route.
What to do if caught in the traffic tie-ups?
"The best thing is turn off your car, roll down your window and watch the cyclists in the race," said Roanoke Lt. Ramey Bower of the traffic bureau.
Police from Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem and the state will have more than 80 officers at major intersections along the race route to redirect vehicles.
No doubt, there will be delays, Bower said.
"But we'll do everything we can to assist people and make the delays as short as possible," he said.
Beginning about 11 a.m., cyclists will wind their way from the Salem Civic Center, through South Salem, over Twelve O'clock Knob and Mount Chestnut, along U.S. 221 into Roanoke to the finish line at the City Market.
Commuters trying to make their way into Salem should take Lynchburg Turnpike and Texas Street into town, Salem Lt. Jeff Dudley suggests. Eighth Street, portions of Colorado Street, Riverside Drive, Front Avenue and Eddy Avenue to Twelve O'clock Knob will be closed from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Things could get a bit hairy as the race rolls into Roanoke County, according to police officials. Virginia 419 is expected to be backlogged with vehicles unable to cross U.S. 221 to the city limits.
"Anything around Brambleton will be a virtual nightmare," said Roanoke County police Lt. T.W. Haynes, adding that there will be no place to easily reroute the cars.
Delays are expected throughout the south part of the county. Haynes advises commuters to take Interstate 581 or Interstate 81 into Roanoke.
Between 9:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Roanoke County, U.S. 221 from Twelve O'clock Knob to Mount Chestnut will be reduced to one lane of traffic. Roselawn Road and Brambleton Avenue will be closed completely.
From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Roanoke police will close many of the downtown streets. Off-limits to vehicles will be Brambleton Avenue, Brandon Avenue, Main Street, Wasena Bridge, Elm Avenue, Franklin Road, Second Street and Campbell Avenue to the City Market. Side roads leading to the main cycling route will also be closed to traffic, Bower said.
Delays are nothing new to residents along Main Street, who battled with barricades for several weeks this winter when a new water main was being placed. The Tour DuPont is a great thing for the city, say some, not to mention that it got the street paved.
"I think it's pretty neat," said Karen Scott, who lives on the 1600 block of Main Street. "The only other amazing thing that has come down the street is an actual house that people were moving."
For those who don't find an alternative route, intermittent crossings, where one or two cars will be allowed to pass through an intersection, will be allowed during a lull in the race. Those include: Brambleton Avenue and Spring Road, Brambleton Avenue at Oakwood Drive, Main Street at Windsor Avenue, Elm Avenue at Fifth Street, Franklin Road at Third Street, Luck Avenue at Second Street and Second Street at Church Avenue.
The City Market area will be closed from 4:30 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., including Campbell Avenue between Jefferson Street and Williamson Road, Salem Avenue between Williamson Road and Second Street, Wall Street, and Market Street between Norfolk and Kirk avenues.
Entry to the Market Square garage will be permitted between 6:45 and 10 a.m. After that, cars will enter and exit on Kirk Avenue.
Downtown business owners aren't hopeful that spectators will increase profits for the day. They expect a lot of browsers but not a lot of buyers.
Ira Katz, owner of Southern Pawn Shop at 10 E. Campbell Ave., isn't too concerned. His store will remain open, but Katz is taking the day off, volunteering along the race route and snagging a couple of VIP seats to the awards ceremony.
"I'm an avid cyclist," he said. "It's not often a professional tour comes through my hometown and right by my back door. If I had to speculate, it's going to create a festive type of atmosphere downtown."
While some restaurants on the City Market hope to see spectators flocking to their eateries, others on Brambleton Avenue aren't so optimistic. Many business owners on that part of the route expect their daily routines to grind to a halt.
"It's just going to kill us," said Debra Castelli, co-owner of Deb's Frozen Lemonade at 3009 Brambleton Ave. "None of our regulars will come in."
But, losing business for a part of the day isn't too bad, said her partner and father, Rudy Castelli. After all, he said, if it puts Roanoke in the limelight, the outcome can't be anything but good.
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