THE PUBLIC can view the latest design plans for a new Falmouth intersection from 4 to 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Virginia Department of Transportation District Auditorium, 87 Deacon Road in Stafford County.
There have been some minor changes to the preliminary designs, and VDOT wants to share them with the public again, said VDOT spokeswoman Tina Bundy.
VDOT has $21 million to reconfigure the intersection of U.S. 17 (Warrenton Road), U.S. 1 and Butler Road in southern Stafford, where traffic is controlled by a signal.
The unusual geometry of the heavily traveled intersection means that only one direction of traffic can proceed at a time. Previous designs have centered around letting two feeder streets--Warrenton and Butler roads--flow unencumbered on an overpass, with traffic on U.S. 1 controlled by a signal, and with ramps to access Warrenton and Butler.
Once the public has been consulted again
After supervisors weigh in, money will be devoted to final design work, Bundy said. A public hearing will be held once there is a final design.
Dear Kelly: I grew up in a different state but was taught that when you are making a right turn you are required to turn into the right lane and vice versa. Otherwise it is considered an illegal lane change. All too often I see motorists do just the opposite because they do not wish to change lanes at a later time down the road. There are instances when I want to make a right turn on red while the oncoming traffic has a green left-turn arrow, but cannot because others are turning into the right lane. I realize they have the right of way, but do they also have the right to turn into whichever lane they please?
--Nick Giambo, Spotsylvania
In Virginia, drivers cannot change lanes in an intersection, said Melanie Stokes, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman.
When making a right turn on red, drivers are passing through an intersection. So drivers must remain in their lane, Stokes said. The same goes for making a left turn. Drivers should remain in their designated lane.
Once a driver has cleared the intersection and is traveling in the proper lane, they can then look for an opportunity to safely change lanes, Stokes said.
Dear Kelly: VDOT recently put up a sign for Rappahannock Community College at the intersection of State Routes 3 and 206 in King George County. Unfortunately, the RCC site has moved with the new King George High School to the next intersection east on Route 3. RCC is currently at 10100 Foxes Way. So the new signs for traffic going east and west on Route 3 need to be moved. Whom do I contact to get these signs moved?
--Cindy Ewoldt,
VDOT has privately contracted this sign work to Virginia Logos. You will need to contact that company to have the signs moved, said VDOT's Bundy. It can be reached at 800/229-2809. The mailing address is 10001 Patterson Avenue, Suite 201, Richmond, Va. 23238.
Dear Kelly: VDOT closed Butler Road in Stafford in June for a drain repair across the road,
--David Payne, Stafford
VDOT purposely laid down a temporary patch
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.