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pletely new dual-lane segments will be necessary. Mr. Moon estimated the new segments at about 1.000 feet at the Shade Hoad crossover and about 2.000 feet at the Covington River.
What about the possibility of a Sperryville bypass, which has been a controversial element of the proposed dual-laning? In 1074, a contingent of Sperryville residents successfully opposed the by-pass, getting it deleted . from the improvement project.
More recently, opponents of the four-lane project have maintained that if the project goes through, the by-pass should be included, since it will eventually be necessary. They say that the existing bottleneck will still continue, having only been moved five miles west, and that traffic hitting the funnel from four to two lanes will create a dangerous situation at the left turn at the Sperryville Exxon.
According to VDOT traffic studies. b0 percent of the westbound traffic turns left there, while 40 percent continues west on Rt. 211 over Thornton Gap to Luray.
Mr. Moon admitted that the traffic situation in Sperryville is “difficult to improve, with houses right on the road." The turn at the Exxon station is also a problem, with a rocky bank on the north side and the Thornton River close by on the south side. VDOT’s only real alternatives, he said, are to control traffic with stop signs and lights.
“As far as the department has looked at it." Mr. Moon said, “the solution is not to go into the town with four-lanes and take a house. The real solution is a by-pass, not a four-lane through town.” A four-lane, he added, "would destroy the unique situation of Sperryville — what the people in Rappahannock County are trying to preserve."
However, Mr. Moon added, as far as he knows there are no plans on paper for a Sperryville by-pass. It is being considered, he said, but no concrete plans have been laid. Those w ill probably come at a later date, he said.
Although Mr. Moon conceded that the completion of I-bb had eased the use of Rt. 211 as the primaryroad across the Blue Ridge Mountains into the Shenandoah Valley, he
The schedule for the project. Mr. Moon said, calls for the first phase of the project, from Washington to the Covington River, a total of 2.3 miles, to be advertised for bid in July 1989. After the closing of bids and awarding of the contract by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, construction should start 2-4 months
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