What are your thoughts on the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia? (Norfolk: taxes, safety)

[vasinger]

To me its the most beautiful part of the country. I love the towns from Winchester to Roanoke everyone is right friendly. It has a cooler climate than the rest of Virginia, too, and more snow, but its very beautiful during the fall.

[roanoker 4]

I am glad the state of Virginia decided not to put a toll on Interstate 81 so more tourists can enjoy the beauty of the Valley.

[jballa]

I didnt realize that Coors brewing co. is now in Golden Co. and Shenandoah valley, VA so now i like it even more!... heard it on a commercial.

And were they really considering a toll road on 81.... they good thing would be less taxes paid by residents to have better roads. still surprising!

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by jballa

And were they really considering a toll road on 81.... they good thing would be less taxes paid by residents to have better roads. still surprising!

And move trucks back over to 95 where they belong...

[jballa]

I didn't realize trucks were not intended to be on I81... makes since now why roanoke has so many rail lines going into it but maybe donkeys & carts might not be safer on 81!

Blame traffic woes on VDOT, not working truckers! There are so many poorly conducted and planned operations in VA that they (AND the legislature for allowing it to continue) are the only ones to blame.

eg. *64 thru hampton (1 year took 4 @ 5x the projected cost!)
*Norfolk/Ptown (midtown) tunnel - improved everything around it except the tunnel itself! No flow improvements
*HRBT//MMBT//Third crossing//460 improvements for hurricane evac- ha!
*81 improvements...... maybe in 30 years
*295 resembles a war-zone with road craters and conrete walls
*220 S of Roanoke... etc.

[lammius]

I-81 is a huge trucking route. It's one of the most direct ways between the Northeast and Mexico!

Is the I-81 truck lanes project off the table? Didn't they just finish the Tier 1 FEIS?

[seanpecor]

The I-81 truck lane is off the table as far as I know:

During the last 25 years, travel demands along I-81 have more than doubled and nearly tripled in some locations. Travel conditions are expected to further deteriorate by 2035. Improvements are needed to address safety and congestion problems.

Needs vary throughout the corridor. Some locations need one additional lane, and other sections need more. A widening concept with a varying number of lanes will most efficiently meet capacity needs.

Separate lanes for trucks do not work for the entire length of I-81 without providing more lanes than are needed. Separate lanes are not proposed to be advanced for further study.

There is an immediate need for smaller, independent safety and operational improvements along I-81. These include but are not limited to constructing truck climbing lanes, extending on- and off-ramps at interchanges, and installing guardrail. FHWA proposes advancing these types of projects independently.

What is wrong exactly with Route 220 south of Roanoke? Unlike many highways, it's a pretty direct route and traffic moves most of the time at 60-65MPH. The I-73 route has essentially been set, and the first chunk of money has been allocated to build the I-73 bypass around Martinsville.

Sean

[5stones]

love the Area.
We went hiking wiht the kids in the nation al park on Sunday. It was beautiful until...the Thunderstorms hit mid hike. Made for quit an adventure for the kids!!! We never got to the falls...maybe next time.

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by jballa

I didn't realize trucks were not intended to be on I81... makes since now why roanoke has so many rail lines going into it but maybe donkeys & carts might not be safer on 81!

.

Didn't mean to imply that they weren't intended there, but have you driven 81 recently??? It can be wall-to-wall trucks at certain times moreso than any other road I've ever witnessed..... I wouldn't mind it so much except when one truck going 56 MPH up a hill decides he has to pass the line of trucks going 55 MPH up the same hill and causes a two mile backup of cars behind them while he pulls off his 30-minute maneuver.

So it's not the trucks themselves for me, it's the way some of them drive.

[Thruway]

Is the valley still rural, threatened, or endanger?
What about trucks, how come they have so many on 81?
Thanks.