THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509210163
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: The Road Warrior
SOURCE: The Road Warrior
LENGTH: Long : 124 lines
City engineers gathered Thursday night with residents and invited them to offer ideas on improving one of our city's deadliest roadways.
Engineers presented a consultant's findings on numbers and percentages, as well as aesthetic details, about the 3.2-mile stretch of Shore Drive that has claimed 10 lives in the last four years.
They presented their findings so the public could digest the information and express what they think needs to be done to improve the accident rate from the west gate of Fort Story to 83rd Street.
In the last 4 1/2 years alone, 83 accidents have been reported on Shore Drive. Of those accidents, 37 percent involved alcohol, 19 percent involved speeding, 64 percent involved trees, and 63 percent were traveling in the westbound direction.
Of the drivers involved: 83 percent were South Hampton Roads residents; 72 percent of the drivers were under age 30; and 30 percent were from the military community.
As for roadway particulars, we all know the road has no shoulders to speak of and no lights. There's also a big problem with speeding. Of the 17,000 folks who use this section of Shore Drive on a daily basis, the average speed is 55 to 65 mph.
Consultants have studied the road since April. They've done traffic counts, speed surveys, bank indicators (to see if the banks are too steep), field surveys, tree surveys and interviews with those involved in the accidents, including police.
This public hearing was the first in a process that calls for some type of change on Shore Drive. The public is invited to submit their suggestions for improvement. All viable suggestions will be considered, and then engineers will propose several options for change. We'll talk more about those proposals as the process gets closer to City Council action approving any plans.
Among the items to consider are: lowering the speed limit, posting bigger speed limit signs, restoring pavement markings, placing rumble strips on the shoulders, widening shoulders, providing lighting, trimming the trees in select locations and guard rails.
If you have any input into this situation, you can send your suggestions to Rich Nettleton, P.E., Department of Public Works, Operations Building, Room 345, Municipal Center, Virginia Beach, Va. 23456-9031.
The deadline for suggestions is Oct. 4.
SNARLS OF THE WEEK
The following wrote to Road:
Dear Road:
Why are we forced to make turns across median strips in such a way that we cannot see the oncoming traffic? Usually there is another car also making a turn in the opposite direction and both drivers are blocking each other's view of the oncoming traffic. We should be making our turn so each driver has the best advantage to see the oncoming traffic, not struggling to see over, around or through the other vehicle.
Arrows could be painted on the street at the median spaces to direct drivers as to the safest way to make these turns. Twenty-five years ago, when I got my license in Norfolk, we made safe turns across median strips. Please investigate this and advise.
E. Kahn
RW: Good question. And having no knowledge of the idiot who came up with this type of median, Road can't tell you whom to blame.
But you're right. Median turn lanes are becoming a problem mainly because engineers have assumed that people will get in the correct spot to make their move - i.e., to the left when they're going left and to the right when they're turning right. The problem seems to be that everyone, those turning left and right as well as going straight, are all piling into what space is left in the median and they're all fighting to make their move first.
It's an ugly situation and is really a question of driver courtesy, which we both know is almost non-existent.
As for the arrows, that would be a good idea but you're talking about a lot of maintenance on a staff that is already having problems keeping our well-traveled roads adequately marked. And, sadly, all the painted arrows in the world won't make people treat each other with respect behind the wheel.
Dear Road:
I've got a challenge for you, get your large Coke or coffee, whatever you like and cross over LASKIN ROAD at REGENCY DRIVE. That's the intersection just past Carvers Creek and is a definite E-ticket ride. That's not a high speed turn (even though it's banked like a high speed corner at a racetrack), can the city do something about leveling it out?
David R. Goldstein
RW: Man, why can't someone challenge Road to a day lounging at the Beach?
All this work! Of course, Road'll take this challenge, and any other thrown at me, head-on. You'll get my full report next week.
Dear Road:
I was the victim of an automobile accident in June on SHORE DRIVE at the foot of the Lesner Bridge. No one was seriously injured, however, both cars were considered a total loss. I would like to thank all of the kind people who stopped to assist and/or call for help. I was quite impressed with the sincere concern extended considering the time of night.
I would especially like to thank the Virginia Beach police officers for their professionalism, the paramedic and the on-call EMT for their medical assistance, the eyewitnesses who supported me 100 percent, and Ernie, the motorist who stopped to call for help.
It is nice and refreshing to see mankind at its best, particularly with a terrible ordeal such as an automobile accident. Again, my sincere thanks and gratitude to all.
John A. Hull
RW: Sorry it took a while to get your ``thanks'' out to the people who deserve it but, better late than never, eh, John? Thanks for the thanks.
Dear Road:
I am a faithful reader of your page in The Beacon. You always seem to be able to help with a question or a problem. Maybe you could tell me why the street signs have been removed from OLDHAM and HANOVER DRIVES off Princess Anne Road South? And will they be re-installed?
Hugh J. Flynn
RW: They've probably been ``removed'' by someone with the last name of Oldham or Hanover, if you get the gist of what Road's saying.
Anyway, Road has called the operations department with the city to report the missing signs. It'll probably be a few weeks before you see the new ones. MEMO: Tell the Road Warrior about your motoring problems. Get 'em off your
chest. Call on Infoline, at 640-5555. After a brief message, dial ROAD
(7623). When directed, press 1 to deliver your message, and 1 again to
sign off.
Or, write: The Road Warrior, Virginia Beach Beacon, 4565 Virginia Beach
Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va., 23462.
Don't forget to include your name, address and neighborhood.
by CNB