Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
At Monday’s Montgomery County Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Mary Biggs opened up a discussion as a result of citizen concerns about the Prices Fork Road roundabout.
Biggs said she has previously brought this up to the Board but has continued to receive complaints from a citizen asking what could be done about the situation.
“He’s worried that when those developments are built and the traffic gets on that road and goes around the round, somebody’s going to get hurt,” Biggs said.
“It’s got a speed limit on there and the roundabout is to the standard for the traffic, so, I don’t know any other signage or anything like that could be done,” Clarke said.
Also responding to complaints about the Prices Fork Road roundabout, Supervisor Sherri Blevins mentioned a previous instructional video that might be helpful in teaching drivers the proper way to enter and exit a roundabout.
“If you could slow down the speed limit down to 25 on both sides as you approach would help a lot,” Supervisor Darrell Sheppard said. “I’ve seen vehicles come from Blacksburg and go through that thing, because it’s almost straight, 50 mile an hour.”
“It’s a good idea,” said David Clarke, who presented Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) updates to the Board during the meeting.
Along with machining and hauling stone to unpaved areas, Clarke reported that they will continue to do brush cutting on many roads in the county. Recent storms have created an increased need for clearing away of brush and debris that may have prohibited the flow of traffic. Mowing along roadsides to allow for sight of distance are also ongoing projects that will continue with VDOT.
County citizens that travel along Pilot Road may have noticed some patching work completed, as well as Alleghany Springs, North Fork Road, Keister’s Branch, Mash Run, and on 114, according to Clarke.
Clarke said that pipe replacement has been going on as well.
“There’s a big one on Merrimac Road the other day that took a while, but also replacing pipe on Catawba Road, Jenelle Road, and on Glade Road,” Clarke Said. “We are getting ready to start, it’s kind of a rural rustic road project, but it is in your six-year plan. It’s when we can fit it in this summer.”
The rural road Clarke referred to is the second section of Craig Mountain Road.
Additional information shared with the Supervisors by Clarke is the start of the design group that has begun meeting on the approved Smart Scale projects. These include projects on Alleghany Springs and Route 11.
Supervisor Todd King asked for additional information relating to a citizen request concerning Rosemary Road. Clarke assured King that he would check into it personally.
Supervisor April DeMotts requested additional information on a timeline or schedule for the improvements on Interstate 81 in Salem and Roanoke County.
“I’m thinking this is a particularly crazy time on 81 with all of Virginia Tech and Radford University students starting back to school and I know you’ve already experienced some delays, just because of accidents,” DeMotts said.
“I don’t know that I have the completion…it’s on schedule,” Clarke said. “I’ll have the schedule on that one and when the next one will get started.”
Supervisor Sara Bohn echoed King’s comments concerning Rosemary Road.
“So, there’s potholes, pretty extensive brush cutting, and I made a note for siding,” Bohn said. “He brings it up, I bring it up, because the Planning Commission; somebody wanted to do some business back there and all the residents came out and just were beside themselves about the fact that they maintain the road themselves for the most part, which they need obviously VDOT to take responsibility for that.”
Bohn also asked for information on an email sent to VDOT concerning the Mill Point Road.
“We’ve done quite a bit of work up there and I’m guessing it’s not what the resident of the road was looking for,” Clarke said. “We do have certain constraints as far as what we can do with drainage within the road and where some of that stormwater might be coming from and how to handle it. We’d be glad to review it again.”
Supervisor Darrell Sheppard brought a couple of concerns for review with VDOT as well. Sterling Drive in the McCoy area presents road issues with travel but also with the rescue squad using that road. Potholes as well as roads that have been patched but are creating a rough surface are some of the issues that have been mentioned by residents. Low-lying limbs are also a problem for higher profile vehicles traveling the roadway.
Supervisor Steve Fijalkowski also referred to low-lying branches as a road issue in the Eastern Montgomery area. Many roads were listed by Fijalkowski, some of which are impacting school bus routes.
“Some of them that I’ve seen, there’s no way around them, you have to hit them,” Fijalkowski said.
Biggs also had a question concerning the Big Falls area of McCoy along the New River’s bank. There is a history of locals parking along the water and across the road at the foot of the railroad easement. A portion of the land is owned and maintained by the Junction, a camping and water tubing business. It is unclear to Clarke and Supervisor Sheppard as to what the legal ramifications are, if anything, for those choosing to park there.
In Supervisor’s reports, Steve Fijalkowski was happy to report to citizens that fiber is going into parts of Alleghany Springs. This funding came from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) grant allocation to provide internet access to rural communities.
“I’m not sure where else they might be working but it is going on and it is happening,” Fijalkowski said.
Blevins also reminded citizens to please be aware of speed limits and school buses that are stopping to load or unload children as Montgomery County Public schools are now back in session.
