ARE YOU a late-night
High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on Interstate 95 will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday nights from Lorton to Dumfries between 9:30 p.m. and 3 a.m. The closure is part of the project to widen I-95 to four lanes from the Fairfax County Parkway to State Route 123 in Woodbridge, a distance of eight miles. This week, HOV is closing so temporary barriers can be moved to protect workers along I-95.
Dear Kelly: As a resident of Great Oaks of Fredericksburg, I deal daily with Mahone Street, which is in a terrible state of repair. Is this street the responsibility of the city, or is it a private street? To whom do I appeal for proper repair?
It has reached the point where it is, in essence, a one-vehicle-wide street when you meet a school bus or a delivery truck that services the surrounding businesses. It has reached a level of decay that makes it not only annoying, but dangerous.
--Tammie Neubert, Fredericksburg
Mahone Street falls under the care of the city of Fredericksburg. The city's Department of Public Works handles road repair. Your street is scheduled for "asphalt rehabilitation" by the end of September, Beth Brown, a city spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. The project will involve milling and repaving the entire road.
Dear Kelly: When are the walk signs at Cosner's Corner going to be active? They've been covered in plastic since the shopping center opened.
--Steve Dunham, Spotsylvania
The Virginia Department of Transportation does not control those traffic signals yet. They are still owned by a private contractor, said Tina Bundy, VDOT spokeswoman. After receiving your question, the agency will encourage the company to activate the pedestrian crossing signals. Look for them to be working in
Dear Kelly: There is a speed bump-sized lump that is making its way across U.S. 1 in the northbound left lane, near the Volkswagen dealership and 7-Eleven in the Four-Mile Fork area. This bump is growing and it is dangerous. Any idea when a fix is going to be made?
--Michelle Taylor, Stafford
That section of U.S. 1 has a concrete base, with an overlay of asphalt, said VDOT's Bundy. Extreme cold and heat has caused the concrete to expand, which is pushing the asphalt surface up. VDOT has cut the asphalt surface to give the concrete joints more room to expand, she said. When work is complete, a new road surface will be laid down in the next two to three months.
Dear Kelly: I have a question about parking on Prince Edward Street. Is this possibly a handicapped area right off Lafayette Boulevard at the Kenmore Avenue turnoff? I notice early in the morning that people park on the east side of Prince Edward Street and then head over to the train station. All other streets close to the train tracks have parking restrictions, but not here. Cars will park well past the end of the curb, thus blocking your view if you come off Lafayette and want to head up Prince Edward into town. You really have to be careful on this turn, or you will hit or be hit. No problem if you head down Kenmore, as there is no "blind spot" there. Now if this is designated as handicapped parking on Prince Edward (east side of street) maybe put up a "No Parking from here to Corner" sign.
--Larry Poyer, Spotsylvania
A "No Parking Here To Corner" sign may be warranted to prevent motorists from parking into the intersection, city spokeswoman Brown said in an e-mail. The city will have the sign installed.
Kelly Hannon is The Free Lance-Star's transportation reporter. If you have questions, send them