What's Up With That?

Back in May, the

The project - which would give Soapstone a new configuration of turning lanes and bike lanes while cutting down on traffic accidents - was supposed to start over the summer.

Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins estimated in May that the project would cost at least $3 million, but if done at the same time as regular repaving and restriping then VDOT could foot the bill.

Summer has come and gone without a traffic cone on Soapstone. What happened?

VDOT Regional Traffic Engineer Randy Dittberner says the project is still on, albeit delayed. The agency is firming up the schedule with the paving contractor and a schedule should be in place in the next few weeks, Dittberner said.

At that time, VDOT will also have a plan of what Soapstone will look like. At the community meeting, a general plan was presented to residents with the idea that some changes could be made based on community input.

Biking advocates loved the idea. Some citizens felt that lane changes would cause backups on Soapstone, particularly as students tried to get to the three schools along Ridge Heights Road near Soapstone in the morning.

The plan presented included:

1. South of Lawyers Road - Repaving only, no lane changes.

2.Lawyers Road to Glade Drive - Currently one lane in each direction; road is 36 feet wide with two 18-foot lanes. New proposal calls for 12-foot lanes and a 6-foot bike lane on each side.

3. Glade Drive to South Lakes Drive - This is the section with the most foot traffic and will likely get the sidewalks. Currently, the road is 48 feet wide with two 12-foot lanes in each direction and a gravel parking shoulder.

The new plan calls for adding two feet to the width to fit in paved parking. There will be one lane in each direction, a bike lane in each direction and a center turning lane.

4. South Lakes to Sunrise Valley Drive - Currently, there are two lanes in each direction and the road is 45 feet wide. The VDOT proposal calls for one 11.5-foot lane in each direction, one 12-foot turning lane and a five-foot bike lane in each direction.