THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 14, 1996 TAG: 9601120182
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
Since 1975, I have lived in the Hickory area of Chesapeake. I am extremely concerned as the taxpayer and as a frequent driver of Centerville Turnpike at the proposed straightening of the curve at Land of Promise and Centerville.
Alternative 8 would widen the curve, provide warning signals and badly needed lowered speed limit signs for drivers not familiar with that stretch of road. It would cost half as much as the proposed Alternative 1 and would be successful in warning drivers, much as the improvements at Butt Station and Centerville have done.
Unlike Alternative 1, Alternative 8 would not displace a single homeowner!
In my opinion, any driver who could not heed flashing lights, lowered speed limit signs and a widened curve could not be in control of his or her faculties - as has been the case of most fatalities on that road.
Should the taxpayers of Chesapeake be forced to pay for removing roadway obstacles for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs or even asleep?
Elizabeth D. Banks
Hickory Ridge Road Sanctity of home
The overwhelming majority of all traffic accidents that have occurred at the curved intersection of Land of Promise Road and Centerville Turnpike have been alcohol-related. The vocal proponents of Alternative 1, an overzealous attempt at long-overdue reform, have neglected to inform the taxpayers of Chesapeake about this sobering statistic.
While certainly ambitious, Alternative 1, at a minimum cost of $1.5 million, would not only eliminate the curve, it would also displace many homeowners currently residing along both Centerville and Woodmont Drive, several of whom have been residents for three decades.
However, Alternative 8 would provide the necessary improvements to the existing curve for roughly half the cost projected for Alternative 1.
Alternative 8 is both fiscally and morally right.
The issue here is not about an isolated ``private golf course.'' In reality, it concerns the continued sanctity of the American home.
Although Alternative 8 will not eliminate the dangers posed by drunken drivers, it certainly presents the City Council and the taxpayers of Chesapeake with a remarkably cost-effective solution to Alternative 1.
J. Patrick Banks Jr.
Hickory Ridge Road A cheaper, better plan
Consider these facts regarding the pending road project at Centerville Turnpike at Land of Promise Road.
Recently, I have read several letters to the editor on this project in which the subject matter was supported only by the personal preferences of the writers with few facts to back up their opinions. My facts are from sources that have no personal interest in this project.
Centerville Turnpike is exactly 12.2 miles long and has posted speed limits ranging from 25 to 55 mph. There is only one section of Centerville Turnpike that has a posted limit of 55 mph. This stretch of 1.8 miles is just before and after Centerville Turnpike's intersection with Land of Promise Road.
Statistics from the Highway Safety Administration clearly show that lowering speed limits significantly reduces accidents and saves lives. They show that in a one-year period, when speed limits were reduced from 65 mph to 55 mph, nearly 9,000 lives were saved. By reducing the speed limit on this 1.8-mile stretch of Centerville from 55 mph to 45 mph, those facts prove that there will be fewer accidents and fatalities.
The city of Virginia Beach installs rumble strips and traffic-activated flashing lights to alert motorists of the severity of curves in their city. Many of their curves are similar to the one at Centerville and Land of Promise. Statistics from the Virginia Beach Traffic Engineering Bureau show that accidents were reduced by approximately two-thirds in areas where these improvements were installed.
Why haven't rumble strips and flashing lights been installed at this location long before now? The irrefutable facts in this letter are common knowledge and have been made known to the traffic engineers of Chesapeake. Let's hope that the City Council will direct the proper parties to make these improvements immediately, regardless of any future road improvements.
We invite the citizens who live on the curve at Land of Promise to join with the Woodmont Community in its efforts to lobby the city for immediate lowering of the speed limit and the installation of rumble strips and traffic-activated flashing lights.
We need to consider the cost of this pending project. Alternate 8 can be constructed for $850,000 and includes many of the traffic controls measures mentioned in this letter. The next least expensive option is Alternative 2, which would cost $1,500,000. Alternative 8 would save $550,000 of precious road bond funds that could be used for other important road projects in Chesapeake.
Most comments on this project have come from the citizens who live near this area. However, when it comes to the unnecessary expenditure of more than a half-million dollars, all 286,337 citizens of Chesapeake need to get involved.
Please let City Council know that you support Alternate 8 and the savings of more than a half-million dollars.
R.L. Atwood
Vice President
Woodmont Civic League
Woodmont Drive Revolutionary roots
Thanks to The Clipper for announcing that the Revolutionary re-enactors were coming to Chesapeake to observe the anniversary of the Battle of Great Bridge (Dec. 10) and for the report that they did ``breathe life into the commemoration` (Dec. 15.) These volunteers performed and Mayor William E. Ward read a proclamation in cold, damp weather, probably like it was 220 years ago.
The Great Bridge Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution has been trying to promote more interest in this significant event in our state's history for many years. Teachers are urged to use the resources in the Wallace Room at the Chesapeake Public Library to help students realize the War for Independence had real roots right in their area.
Mary Jane I. Davis
Great Bridge Chapter, NSDAR
Norfolk by CNB