Too many chances for conflict make Chesapeake intersection ripe for fix

HERE'S A WORKPLACE routine that Nancy Tarkenton and Sarah Edwards could do without.

It starts with the sound of crunching metal, at the intersection of Old Greenbrier Road and South Military Highway. It's followed by a flurry of workers from the Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority - in the role of first responders - and someone dialing 911 on a cell phone.

Twice, for Tarkenton, it has meant staring into a lifeless face.

"Two more deaths than I ever wanted to witness," she said.

The problem centers on right-turn traffic on northbound Old Greenbrier.

"Those people don't stop," said Edwards, who has worked at the authority for five years.

The right-turners often breeze right past a yield sign, Edwards said. That means trouble on two fronts. It creates conflicts with left-turning traffic from southbound Old Greenbrier as well as U-turn traffic heading west on South Military.

The Warrior forwarded Tarkenton's concerns to Chesapeake traffic engineers on April 24. Last week, the traffic signals at the intersection were changed so northbound and southbound Old Greenbrier traffic no longer get a green signal at the same time.

"We are confident this modification will improve safety," traffic engineer Earl Sorey said. Engineers will provide additional pavement markings to bring attention to the yield sign.

Tarkenton suggests a better solution would be moving the yield sign closer to the northbound Old Greenbrier stop bar. Better yet, she said, change the yield sign to a stop sign.

Sorey said the city will continue watching the intersection to see if more improvements are needed. I'll keep watching, too.

Tight squeeze in Norfolk

On April 22, The Warrior wrote about Bob Huff's concern with the success of Capt. Groovy's, a new hangout on Shore Drive in Norfolk.

There isn't enough parking in the bar-restaurant's parking lot, he said. So his street, Dunning Road, which runs alongside the business, gets flooded with cars on weekend nights.

Two cars can't pass one another on Dunning, Huff said. Worse, if someone's sitting on Dunning waiting to turn onto Shore Drive, motorists trying to turn onto Dunning from Shore have to halt on the busier road.

The city told The Warrior it would erect "No Parking" signs on Dunning, close to the intersection. Huff said he'd like the parking prohibition extended a few hundred feet farther.

Huff then got his neighbors to fill out a petition. Now, Norfolk plans to install "No Parking" signs on both sides of his block between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Turn-lane problem

The Warrior also wrote about right-turn-lane scofflaws on George Washington Highway, at Willowwood Drive in Chesapeake. Tom Banford said drivers use the right-turn-only lane at Willowood to cheat into the inside, through lane.

The city said that, in summer 2009, the right-turn lane will be eliminated as part of a $4 million project. Traffic engineers told The Warrior the pavement markings will be "refreshed" as an interim fix.