RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Laura Bullock (540-387-5493) saleminfo@VirginiaDOT.org

SAL-125 Nov. 18, 2004

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MERRIMAN ROAD?
VDOT asks for input from citizens about possible future plans

Interested citizens who use Merriman Road (Route 613) in southwestern Roanoke County are invited to attend an informal meeting with representatives from the Virginia Department of Transportation to discuss the road’s future. The meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 29, from 4-7 p.m. at Penn Forest Elementary School, located at 6328 Merriman Road.

“We are not coming to this meeting with any plans or design concepts about Merriman Road,” said Jeff Echols P.E., VDOT resident engineer for Roanoke County. “There is no big book of construction plans. In fact, there’s not even a plan on paper. We would rather listen to any issues that people may have and all ideas they would like to offer.”

Generally, the area of Merriman Road to be discussed runs from Starkey Road (Route 904) north to Pine Acres Lane (Route 1640). In this area, Merriman Road serves residential, commercial, educational and industrial properties. North of the area are Cave Spring High School and Route 221; to the south are Penn Forest Elementary School, a rail line, businesses, a recreational park, an industrial area and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This section of Merriman Road includes 12 intersections, and the speed limit is 35 mph. Average traffic volume in 2003 was 5,300 vehicles per day; traffic is expected to increase to 9,500 vpd by 2027.

Aerial photographs will be on display at the information meeting showing the existing road alignment and areas that do not meet current roadway design standards. Accident data will be available as well.

All comments from the public received during the Nov. 29 meeting and for 10 days after the meeting will be taken into consideration by VDOT engineers and county officials in planning the future of Merriman Road. Citizens also may send comments to Mr. Jeff Echols P.E., VDOT Salem Residency Office, P.O. Box 3071, Salem, Va. 24153.

For more information about the Merriman Road meeting, call VDOT’s Salem Residency Office at (540) 387-5488.