LEGISLATION IS al-
Among them:
House Bill 374: requires the Virginia Department of Transportation, when requested by a child's parent or guardian, to post a "Child With Autism" sign when a child under the age of 18 with autism lives nearby.
HB 438: would prevent the state from issuing a learner's permit to minors when school records show a minor has had more than five unexcused absences in the six months immediately preceding their application.
HB 904: bans the use of cell phones or wireless electronic telecommunications devices while driving a motor vehicle on a public highway (with "certain exceptions") unless the device is equipped with a hands-free accessory.
HB 1281: anyone convicted of a third or subsequent DUI charge would display a yellow license plate with red letters and numbers on motor vehicles registered in Virginia for five years.
Senate Bill 526: requires vehicle safety inspections every 24 months instead of every 12 months, and increases the maximum fee to $20 instead of the current $16.
Go to leg1.va.state.us.org to read more about legislation for the 2009 session.
Dear Kelly:
The northbound U.S. 1 left-turn lanes onto Southpoint Parkway in Spotsylvania are being inhibited by the median on Southpoint, which protrudes too far into the inside of the left-turn lanes. This results in slower turning movements, which, in turn, result in traffic stacking up in the left-turn lanes, overflowing them. Traffic then stacks up in the adjacent northbound through lanes. If that median was shaved off by a few feet, the turning traffic would move faster and thus clear the stacked cars faster--and then they'd not be blocking U.S. 1 north.
This would be a fairly simple thing to do but it would take someone from VDOT or the county to come down and take a look--and then, of course, either VDOT (or the owners, if it is not yet VDOT's) would have to fix it. There are dozens of small things like this across the region that would help move traffic more efficiently if they were looked into.
--Larry Gross, Spotsylvania
VDOT looked at this intersection. Staff members observed vehicles turning left onto Southpoint Parkway, how the median affected the turn, and how severe the "stacking" problem was for U.S. 1 north through-traffic.
VDOT agrees with you--shrinking the median would make the turn easier.
But it's not as simple as filing it down.
Shaving down the median would shift traffic lanes--which would require extending the traffic signal's mast arm to align with the new lanes, and adding a new traffic signal. VDOT would also have to move a drainage structure.
Estimated cost: at least $50,000.
The stacking problem does not appear to be severe yet, or to be causing a safety hazard, said Tina Bundy, VDOT spokeswoman. It will continue to monitor this intersection in case the stacking worsens, thereby justifying the cost.
Dear Kelly: There are two hazards on River Road. One is exactly 1 mile from the intersection of River Road and Bragg Road (not far from the Giant Food Store at Spotsylvania Crossing). There is a deep hole right next to the road. If someone's wheel goes off the road at that spot, it would cause a horrific accident. The other hazard along the road is a huge log resting high up against some trees, about an eighth of a mile from the deep hole, on the same side of the road. It looks like it could come down on the road at some future time.
--Margaret Ann Holt, Stafford
VDOT visited both of these spots along River Road to assess them.
First, the hole along the side of the road is there to serve a purpose--it's where drainpipes running under River Road emerge.
VDOT will install reflective road markers at the edge of the pavement as a safety precaution, said VDOT's Bundy.
As for the tree, VDOT determined the tree is secure and not a safety hazard, Bundy said. She understands how it could look that way from the road, though.
The tree will be removed, but Bundy did not have a removal date.
Dear Kelly: I have been getting off Interstate 95 south at Exit 110 at Ladysmith for years, and it is full of craters, and has been. Recently they added a new left-turn lane but did nothing about the right-turn lane. How long do we have to wait to have this exit repaired? HELP!
--David Dowling, Caroline
Help is on the way. VDOT plans to mill and resurface the right turn lane on the I-95 south off-ramp at Exit 110, Bundy said.
VDOT wants to get the project done before Jan. 1, if the weather is warm enough for paving. Generally, the temperature must be 50 degrees or warmer to pave.
Kelly Hannon is The Free Lance-Star's transportation reporter. If you have questions, send them to Getting There, c/o The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401; or you may fill out the Getting There form on the Web at: fredericksburg.com.