Boones Mill Area

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by seanpecor

I'm with you DD! I'd prefer a bypass also. There is already a N/S rail line that follows 220, so it would make more sense to better utilize it. My gut sense though is that it will move forward though. We'll have to wait and see.

I've got friends who own about 20 acres off Crowell Gap Road and last I heard they've received letters from VDOT that the planned I-73 route cuts through their property. I feel badly for them because they bought 40 acres in the Burnt Chimney area to retire on, which is also going to be affected by a new AEP power line. Ouch.

Sean

They did finalize the route recently, and that probably prompted the letters from VDOT.

Here's a disturbing picture from the VDOT website!

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by wsn1203

220 is (to me) a very pleasant drive...as long as you get off of it (coming South) before you get near Greensboro.. on into town is where it really gets stupid.

Yeah, I used to always get on 68 west of Greensboro and avoid taking 220 through town. That's just nuts!

Originally Posted by wsn1203

Makes me wonder as well.. if a southern (south of the city) "spur" highway might some day be in the works that will connect I-81 and Hwy. 220.

Ha! That would be something. There's nowhere to put it in Roanoke County, and if you ran it from Franklin to Montgomery, you'd have to go up the "mountain" (the lip of the Allegheny Plateau) and then back down Poor Mountain into Elliston to the intermodal. That is a great route, if you're a bird!

[seanpecor]

For what it's worth, Lynn (the Boones Mill officer in the police interceptor GTO) won't tag you for going less than 15mph over the posted limit (i.e. 59mph in a 45mph zone). The town council wanted him to drop down to 10mph in order to increase revenue lost after the stoplight added in '05 cut ticket revenue to 1/3rd its prior level. He refused. Still, I don't do over 55mph through the town and usually I'm forced to go 45mph because Lynn's (undeserved) reputation precedes him

I hate going through Greensboro on 220. We do it often hauling horses and I can reliably bypass it southbound but - I swear - until I got a truck w/ GPS the northbound trip was frustrating because of the lack of signage on 68 to get back on to 220.

Sean

[wsn1203]

That's too funny!..

Another one you have to watch is that guy who patrols the Northbound side, in the white car.. about 2 miles south of The Home Depot. (on 220) He does not play.

But still... I'm in the slow lane now.... That's one reason I love the area so much...Life moves too fast already.. no need to hurry it up.. (I have gotten a lot smarter since coming to Roanoke!) Besides, If I really wanted to die young of a stress related illness, I'd just stay here in the Triad for another 10 years instead of being almost fanatical in my daily search to find meaningful employment and come there.

If heading East out of GSO, Check out dropping down 87 just south of Ridgeway.. To me it's the only way to go even though you have a painful (but short) drag thru Eden. 87 is two lane all the way from Reidsville to Borington (not mis-sp'ld) but it is usually very smooth sailing and only a 30 min. trip. Otherwise.. if going West or South out of GSO.. I would probably take 29 down to the city and jump into the middle of "Death Valley". At least you would miss all the lights and strip mall traffic.
Hope this helps...
Job hunt is still progressing....

[matthews1965]

Sending and advance welcome to Virginia. If you don't succeed with the 12 ac + lot you're hoping for, take a look at Hardy. You might be surprised.

Best of luck!!!!