Former Supervisor Granville Hogg comments and clarifies work at the new Food Lion traffic light:
I recently read articles in the local news media. I greatly appreciate the recognition for the efforts made to improve traffic safety at that location. I would like to correct some of the text to reflect the facts as I know them.
The Construction of traffic control devices located at the McDonalds/Food Lion/ Atlantic Union Bank median crossing does not reflect the proposal the local citizens and I provided to VDOT and Northampton County Board of Supervisors.
The proposal to VDOT included the following:
1. Posting of 45 MPH signs south of the intersection of U.S. 13 and S.R. 684, (Bayview Cir, Parsons Cir)
2. Reconstruction of the former connection from Cheriton, Bus. U.S.13, now South Bayside Road, across the railroad tracks and terminate as an “Access/feeder road” beginning in front of McDonald’s. All Traffic could ingress and egress to the shopping area through the existing stoplight by accessing the PROPOSED reconstructed connection to Cheriton.
3. The entrance to the shopping area at the existing median crossing would only permit traffic to enter the shopping area. All traffic from the shopping area would exit near Dollar General over the PROPOSED reconstructed roadway and exit via the Existing Stoplight where traffic could travel North or South on U.S. 13 or Bus U.S. 13 to Cheriton.
4. A stoplight was proposed for the intersection of U.S. 13 and S.R. 684, (Bayview Cir, Parsons Cir)
The above proposal was compromised at the last moment. It was believed that if Northampton County did not accept VDOT’s plan, VDOT would not return to the drawing board to amend the plan it presented. The proposal, as presented above, had the support of Governor Northam who worked with me on this issue for over a decade.
I look forward to monitoring this Memorial Day Weekend traffic to be reminded how well the Board of Supervisors and VDOT’s Traffic improvement Plan fits this traffic situation. With the addition of the approval of traffic access from the YMCA onto at an uncontrolled intersection will add to the interest, when YMCA could have entered on SR 184 and had a controlled intersection. For the safety of my neighbors and the motoring public I hope all goes well. In the interim, I will try to avoid the area.
I cannot take credit for the rumble strips. In my opinion they are a great idea. It will assist in alerting the driver of the entrance to the CRASH ZONE.
Granville Hogg