Roanoke County residents concerned about intersection, BOS may j - WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va
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Residents in one Roanoke County neighborhood say an intersection there isn't safe -- and they'd like to see improvements made. Tuesday afternoon, county leaders may echo that call.
The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors recently received a petition with about 700 signatures asking that something be done about the intersection of Starkey Road and Buck Mountain Road.
Residents say during morning and evening rush hour, it becomes too congested and creates dangerous situations for drivers.
"Folks trying to make a left hand turn quite often are having to rush in between cars coming down from Buck Mountain Road," said Brian Godzwa, who manages the auto and tire shop near the intersection. "Even cars turning right onto Starkey at the fork in the road are having to try to time and beat the cars coming over Buck Mountain. It definitely creates an unsafe situation."
Godzwa says he and many others in the area would like to see a traffic light installed there.
During their meeting Tuesday afternoon, the Board will vote on a resolution requesting that VDOT complete a safety improvements study for the intersection.
"I think it's my obligation to do exactly that and to send the letters to VDOT and whoever is appropriate to take a look at this," said Supervisor Charlotte Moore.
According to Roanoke County Police, since 2008, officers have responded to 11 accidents at the intersection -- five that were minor and required no report and six that were reportable. In all of those incidents there were no reported injuries.
VDOT says it frequently works with county Boards of Supervisors and no formal resolution is required to request this kind of study -- though its staff is happy to accept one and review it. When the agency receives one of these requests, it's put into a queue (wait list) and is completed as quickly as VDOT staff and resources allow.
VDOT officials say requests made by local governments typically receive higher priority.
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