If You're Not Part of the Solution...
Printer-Friendly
Email this Letter
Post a Comment (0)
If You're Not Part of the Solution...
Last week, I wrote a letter to the Times-Democrat giving my opinion on why the bypass (Timberfence Parkway extension) that would connect U.S. 211 to U.S. 17 should be scrapped once and for all.
I attended the county board of supervisor's meeting, where I heard the traffic problems of the residents of Foxcroft Road and Norfolk Drive.
After hearing the resident's concerns, this week I'd like to offer some suggestions so I can be part of the solution, not just stagnating the problem.
The biggest contributor to traffic along Foxcroft Road is the traffic going to/from the Warrenton Training Center (WTC).
To eliminate the through traffic on Foxcroft Road — and I do mean eliminate — the intersection of Foxcroft Road and U.S. 17 Business needs to be sealed permanently.
This would provide immediate traffic relief to those residents. The traffic would then take Bear Wallow Road all the way to Broadview Avenue, and the residents along Foxcroft and the surrounding streets would still have two access points, namely Foxcroft Road at Bear Wallow Road and Fauquier Road at Broadview Avenue.
To dramatically improve the safety of the intersection of Bear Wallow Road and Broadview Avenue due to the increased traffic, this "Y" intersection needs to be converted into a traditional "T" intersection.
The intersection would then require a three-way stop to reduce the traffic that transits the part of Broadview Avenue behind the Exxon station from U.S. 17 Business to Broadview Avenue proper (U.S. 17/U.S. 211).
The biggest contributor of the traffic along Norfolk Drive is the high school and the commuter traffic traveling to the training center.
To reduce this traffic immensely (and I hate to say this), Timberfence Parkway needs to be completed all the way to Waterloo Road and to Waterloo Road alone, no further.
U.S. 211 traffic traveling to U.S. 17 needs to remain on Broadview Avenue.
This short extension of Timberfence Parkway would give the Silver Cup and Gold Cup neighborhoods two major entry points.
Buses and cars going to and from the high school, WARF and WTC would utilize this slow-speed road. For traffic calming, the road would have to be at a residential speed of 25 mph and have four-way stops at the intersections of Silver Cup Drive and Black Sweep Road.
In addition, Timberfence Parkway would need to remain two-lane (not four) with a solid yellow strip and be off limits to trucks.
Lastly, Broadview Avenue and West Lee Highway need the improvements that the HNTB study recommended. This should include a traffic light at the intersection of Gold Cup Drive and Broadview Avenue.
If these measures are adopted, most of the problems and fears that the surrounding neighborhoods have will be mitigated. The neighborhoods that surround Timberfence Parkway will be more safe and enjoyable.
I believe these are simple and effective solutions that could be acted upon quickly and provide a livable compromise to all.
Eric Treworgy
Warrenton
You must be logged in to post a comment.