THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 15, 1994 TAG: 9411150327
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
The state had charts. It had videos. It had aerial photographs. The Department of Transportation had about 25 officials and consultants on hand Monday to answer people's questions about the Southeastern Expressway.
In the end, more than 250 showed up to have their questions answered about the proposed 20-mile highway between Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
And to give their opinions: They overwhelmingly opposed it.
``I thought this ugly albatross was dead,'' said Donald F. Sullivan, whose home is in Pine Ridge, near the expressway's route through Virginia Beach. ``This is the biggest boondoggle, the biggest con, that has ever hit Southeastern Virginia. This is a road to nowhere.''
Sullivan was one of the 25 to 50 people who milled around the large conference room at any one time during the five-hour public hearing at the Radisson Hotel near the Pavilion.
What people said at the hearing could affect whether the expressway is built. Federal highway and environmental officials, who have not yet approved its construction, will review the comments as part of the state application process.
A similar hearing will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday in Chesapeake at the Holiday Inn at Greenbrier.
Some politicians have begun questioning whether the region needs the highway. The Chesapeake City Council may vote on the project today. A vote against the highway would hurt its chances of construction.
The highway was also hurt Monday when Gov. George F. Allen announced he intends to lift the tolls on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway. This hurts the Southeastern Expressway in two ways, said Dwight Farmer, a transportation planner at Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.
People are far less likely to use the Southeastern Expressway, which would have a toll, if they can travel to Virginia Beach free on another highway.
Highway officials have discussed using revenue from the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway to build the Southeastern Expressway, which would cost between $350 million and $500 million. A senator earlier this year said that tolls on the new road could be as high as $3 one way without the revenue from Route 44.
Monday's public hearing gave people a variety of ways to learn about the highway.
The room had tables on one side holding reports and maps. In one corner of the room, a video gave a quick overview of the highway. Against another wall was a line of tall room dividers with charts, statistics and routes superimposed on aerial photographs of the region.
The Army Corps of Engineers had a table set up. People could sit and watch a video where a colonel gave an essentially neutral position on the highway. At another table, Transportation Department staff explained how and when the state would buy people's homes, should the highway require their property.
At the very end of the room, people could write down their comments or tell them to Michelle Anthony, a stenographer. Three hours into the meeting, Anthony said people were about ``99-1'' against the highway.
Many people ended up arguing with the officials behind the tables about the highway's merits.
``I lived here when they were building the other expressway,'' the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, Donna Litchfield of Lake Placid told a state consultant at one table. ``Everyone wanted that road. But now public sentiment is so reversed.''
Highway officials warned that although city highways might not seem crowded now, it would be different in 20 years.
Not everyone Monday opposed the road. Marjie Ruediger's home near Oceana Naval Air Station would be taken if the expressway were built. But Ruediger looked forward to the new road and to selling her house.
``I think it's a good idea, and I want to sell my home anyway,'' Ruediger said. ``I can feel people here are against it. But I think they'll change their mind once they get a new house out of the deal.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff map
Area Shown
KEYWORDS: SOUTHEASTERN EXPRESSWAY PROPOSED by CNB