Some questions about work on Bus. 29 roadway

James M. Bayne
Published: October 8, 2008

I have been observing the construction activities on Bus. 29 since its inception. It is hardly avoidable, as that is my route into town each day.

As a retired architect and engineer, but more importantly as a taxpayer, several questions about this project come to mind.

First, why weren’t the traffic control stanchions, arms and lights at the intersection of Montanus Drive and U.S. 29 installed for the widened road in the first place rather than putting in a set for the existing roadway and then taking them down and installing new ones?

I realize that the lights themselves would have needed to be moved to suit the wider roadway.

Second, when the northbound lanes of the new roadway were opened at Bradford Road and U.S. 29, why were the detection devices controlling the lights for traffic going north on Bradford left aimed at the spot formerly used before the new northbound section of U.S. 29 was opened?

The error left traffic proceeding northbound on Bradford, or those wishing to turn left or right on U.S. 29, out of the detection range of the sensors (this was subsequently corrected).

Third, why didn’t those who designed the new lanes consider the existing road levels, entrances and egresses from existing businesses and design the new lanes with those elements in mind?

This would have saved an enormous amount of fill (and the resultant elevation of the road above the level of abutting businesses) and the removal of what was (in my mind) a perfectly good stretch of existing road.

And, I presume, it will require bringing in an enormous amount of additional fill to raise the grade of the old road to match that of the new.

James M. Bayne
Culpeper