Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 15, 1994 TAG: 9407220096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BRISTOL LENGTH: Medium
David R. Gehr, who became commissioner April 15, said the cost will be more than the $600 million approved by the legislature. Bristol Transportation District Engineer Jack Corley said the cost would be $1.2 billion, twice the value of the bonds.
"And the legislature knew that when they passed that legislation," Gehr said. "They knew what the very preliminary estimates were."
Corley said that obviously means some of the planned four-laning of U.S. 58 from Lee County to Virginia's ports will come from other sources than the bonds.
For that reason, he said, it is likely that a controversial segment in Washington and Grayson counties will be among the last to be built. Some residents are concerned about the environmental impact on the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The Commonwealth Transportation Board member from Southwest Virginia, Joe Bert Rhea, has discussed alternative routes with the board.
But Gehr said the board has made its selection of a corridor through that area. "The commonwealth board can reconsider any action that it's previously taken," he said. "But as of this moment, they've made their decision, and that's the one we'll move forward on."
He said the same applies to Interstate 73, for which the state has recommended a route that would take it through the Roanoke Valley along the U.S. 460/220 corridor.
Some road groups from west of the Roanoke Valley sought to have I-73 follow Virginia 100 or Interstate 77, and Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, is pushing for a route that would take it through Grayson County. "We're continuing to work with his office," Gehr said, and Secretary of Transportation Robert Martinez is providing Boucher with the information on which the board's decision was based.
Gehr said the Roanoke Valley route was chosen because it would have the greatest beneficial economic impact.
"All we've done is select this very wide corridor," he said. Engineering studies will be needed to narrow it down.
I-73 would not necessarily be like the interstate highways Virginians are used to, he said. It is called an simply because it goes through a number of states, he said, but is part of the national highway system rather than the interstate system.
"It just kind of had that name given to it early on," Corley said.
Each state through which it goes will decide to what level to build it, Gehr said. "I think it's safe to say it's going to be a very high-quality road."
Gehr was in Bristol attending his seventh and final media conference around the state.
by CNB