Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160032
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
During the last three weeks, Paget has spent hours examining maps of the complex Blacksburg interchange included in the proposed Alternative 3A road project, trying to figure out how to save the front entrance to his office at 2727 S. Main St. Design plans show a ramp coming from the interchange onto South Main Street, cutting off entrances to the professional condominium park that includes Paget's office and neighboring South Main Commons.
In all, 19 businesses, 60 percent of which are medical offices, would lose their front entrances to Main Street, owners say.
South Main Commons consists of three buildings with businesses ranging from Townside Realty to physical therapy to architecture. The 2727 S. Main St. address also has several separate buildings.
The two office parks have different entrances.
The Transportation Department, which is working with the businesses, has suggested an access road that would run behind the complexes. No final agreement has been reached, though transportation officials stress that there are adjustments that can be made.
"We need a simple and easy access to our complex and what we're being offered by VDOT is to put an access road to the back of our building," Paget said. "How do we direct people to an access road that comes to the back of the building?"
Paget added that he is concerned that the value of his property would decrease without direct Main Street access.
"Your practice and your building is basically your lifetime investment," he said.
Alternative 3A would link the Christiansburg and Blacksburg bypasses and provide an extension from the existing Christiansburg bypass to I-81 near Falling Branch Road. The Blacksburg interchange would connect U.S. 460 Business with the 460 bypass and the proposed "smart" highway.
Ron Secrist, Blacksburg town manager, said the entrance ramp onto South Main Street was added after the town requested an access point into its downtown. He and the business owners realized the ramp could cause problems after viewing the altered design plans for the interchange three weeks ago.
Since then, town officials and several affected business owners have been meeting with Dan Brugh, the Transportation Department's resident engineer in Christiansburg. The town is sending a list of requests to the Transportation Department that will include a suggestion to shorten the entrance ramp, which at least would allow the entrance to 2727 S. Main St. to remain.
The town also is suggesting that the service road connect with Prosperity Road, which links to Industrial Park Road, and that it include sidewalks, bus lanes and areas for buses to pull off the road.
Dr. Lucian Robinson, a family practitioner and president of the South Main Commons Condominium Association, said he hopes the entrance to his complex also can be salvaged.
"One of the main problems is some people come from out of town," Robinson said. "In order to find our places of business ... they would have to find the access road and weave around and come from behind the building. That would make access compromised."
Brugh is on vacation this week and could not be reached for comment. In an earlier interview, Brugh said the department is trying to address the business owners' concerns.
"There's one thing that we can look at, maybe trying to bring that ramp into South Main Street a little quicker," he said.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***