THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509080219
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
The City Council Wednesday approved two, new truck routes, diverting truck traffic away from Downtown Suffolk as building demolition and construction of the new courthouse begins.
The new routes were a compromise after Suffolk Vice Mayor Curtis R. Milteer Sr., said children and residents of South Suffolk were endangered by the original proposed route.
As trucks approach the city from the south, the alternative routes will take northbound and westbound traffic on to Turlington Road and then to U.S. Route 58. Southbound and eastbound truck traffic will take the city's Industrial Access Route off U.S. Routes 13 and 32, cutting through South Suffolk via County Street and Pinner Street to U.S. Route 58.
Thomas G. Hines, director of public works, offered the council four route options - divert all truck traffic on to Turlington Road; allow Main Street and the Industrial Access Route to handle truck traffic; split truck traffic using Turlington Road and the Industrial Access Road; and do nothing.
The prevailing option was unanimously approved by the council after Milteer said County Street and the residents of South Suffolk would not be endangered or inconvenienced by truck traffic. There was no dissension.
Suffolk's Main Street sees an average flow of about 30,000 vehicles per day, 3,000 of which are large trucks, according to Hines. Those numbers double around harvesting season, he said. August figures showed 21,310 vehicles using North Main Street at the crosswalk. About 89 percent of those vehicles were cars; almost 11 percent were trucks.
As construction is set to begin early next year of the new $14 million courthouse building in the heart of downtown, there was concern by city officials as to where all this truck traffic would go. It is expected that the demolition of the Woolworth's and J.C. Penney Co. Inc. store will take up at least one lane of traffic on Main Street.
In 1993, a Smithfield packing plant truck spilled pig heads, feet and intestines on Main Street in Downtown Suffolk, tying up traffic for three hours and costing the city $3,500 for the cleanup. City officials worry another such event could endanger drivers as well as the city's reputation.
Trucks will still be using Main Street to access the city's downtown businesses and industries, even with the alternative routes. However, Hines said ``the numbers won't provide any problems.''
Hines appeared to agree with the council's decision. With the elimination of on-street parking in Downtown Suffolk, he said the chosen option was the best.
The re-routing was scheduled to begin Sept. 15 and last for up to 36 months as the city prepares to demolish half a city block to make way for a new courthouse facility on Main Street. The alternative truck routes will be temporary until all construction is complete. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
A truck cruises past the downtown site where the courthouse complex
will be built.
by CNB