BY SCOTT SHENK
THE FREE LANCE-STAR
Commuters who see too much red along State Route 3 on weekday evenings might find more relief soon in the form of additional traffic-signal timing work.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has already made changes aimed at improving the synchronization of lights between the Interstate 95 exit at Central Park and Chewning Lane/Rutherford Drive.
But what about the two lights farther west, at Old Plank and Gordon roads?
Some Spotsylvania County officials hope to see those lights adjusted like the ones to the east.
Nothing is written in stone, but the lights along the Route 3 widening project, which have gained a bad reputation among road-weary commuters, might get the same syncing work that those to the east have already gotten.
The project stretches just over a mile, to the Gordon Road area. Traffic already has to go slower there because of the lower 35-mph speed limit. While it might be nearly impossible to even reach that speed during rush hour, at least better-timed signals could allow for better flow.
Light synchronization—especially just two signals—isn’t going to fix the regular bottleneck that clogs westbound Route 3 every weekday evening. But it can’t hurt.
The downside with the rush-hour signal changes is that drivers using side roads during the commuter march might not like the longer waits.
But it’s rush hour.
What do you expect?
VDOT is studying the effect of the newly synced lights between I-95 and Chewning Lane/Rutherford Drive, and wants to hear from drivers.
You can email comments to VDOT at fredericksburginfo@vdot.virginia.gov.
Dear Scott: Heading west on Courthouse Road in Spotsylvania between the hours of 4:30 and 7 p.m. toward the intersection of Leavells Road, the left-turn lane onto Leavells Road often takes one to two cycles to get through the intersection.
It seems that if the left-turn lane were extended to the bottom of the hill it would alleviate the problem.
Can this be submitted to VDOT for study?
—Mark Lebel, Spotsylvania
VDOT engineers are checking out the signal timing at this spot to see if it can be adjusted to cut down on backups and the wait during peak hours.
This should let more vehicles get through per cycle, spokeswoman Kelly Hannon said.
A change of just a few seconds can make a big difference and trim the queue of cars that build up in the left-turn lane, she said.
Speaking of the turn lane, Hannon said the median is so narrow in this area that lengthening the lane would mean major construction work.
So VDOT wants to see if changing the light cycles will do the trick.
Scott Shenk: 540/374-5436
sshenk@freelancestar.com
