Big changes in Blacksburg have begun these past few weeks with the start of the Main Street Improvement Project construction. This project involves the stretch of Main Street beginning at College Avenue and extends to the intersection with Prices Fork Road.

Blacksburg’s Downtown Master Plan, completed on Aug. 31, 2001, proposed improvements in pedestrian-friendly travel, public gathering spaces, and streetscapes. After the transportation study was completed, the Main Street Improvement Project was added to the road priority list by Town Council resolution on Oct. 23, 2003.

“I think it’s important to note that this is a project that has been in the works for a very long time,” Krisha Chachra, a member of town council, said. “The transportation study was completed in 2002, and there was a citizen information meeting in 2007. It’s part of the master plan, so it’s not something that just came up overnight.”

This new plan will reduce the existing roadway from four lanes to two lanes with a shared center lane for left turns. Additional changes include replacing the current intersection at North Main Street and Prices Fork Road with a roundabout, pedestrian signals, street lighting, expanded sidewalk areas, and streetscape amenities in keeping with recommendations from the Downtown Master Plan.

The Blacksburg Town Council has received both positive and negative feedback on the improvement plan.
“I think those that have the long-term vision are very excited about the project,” Chachra said. “I know there have been some very vocal concerns, and we’ve been trying our best to address them.”

Some of these concerns have come from the local business owners whose businesses are located in the construction area.

“This project could have been fantastic if it was designed better,” said Stan Davis, who has been working at Eats Natural Foods for 36 years. “It’s going to make it more difficult to get into our business, and there will be less parking. This is going to make it inconvenient for our customers, and ultimately, they’ll go somewhere that is more convenient to them.”

Scott Elich, owner of Mill Mountain Coffee, located in the shopping center next to Eats, shared a similar viewpoint.

“It’s not helping me, and it will probably hurt me,” Elich said. “People are going to find alternative routes because of the construction, which is going to cut down on traffic going by the store, and traffic is good for business.”

Another major concern is with both the placement and safety of the roundabout.

“They’re experimenting with the busiest intersection on Main Street,” Davis said. “I know people from Europe, where roundabouts are very prevalent, who say that they’re nightmares even in places where people are used to them.”

Chachra said that she has been trying her hardest to listen to these concerns and relay them back to the town. “I’m really sensitive to certain businesses that have been in town a long time,” Chachra said. “We want to keep them here and encourage them to stay. We hope that this improvement project will help them in the long run instead of hurt them in the short term.”

The roundabout will be constructed over a three-month period next summer when most students have gone home. During this construction phase, two detours will be in effect, one at Webb Street and the other at Turner Street.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts reduce fatalities up to 90 percent, injury crashes by 76 percent, and pedestrian crashes by 30-40 percent.

“The current design plan was mostly done to increase the downtown feel and for pedestrian safety,” said Brandon Steele, Transportation Program Manager. “We’ve had a history of quite a few pedestrian-vehicle accidents in the area, so the idea was to increase the pedestrian friendliness and pedestrian safety, and the roundabout actually helps to increase the vehicle capacity, so it helps all around.”

Phase I of the project was started the week of June 21 with the removal of the islands at Alumni Mall and Giles Road and the installation of water and sewer lines on the College Avenue extension. The curb, gutter, and sidewalk will be demolished from June 28 to July 2 to prepare for Phase II of the project, the center islands near Faculty Street will be demolished and temporary travel lanes and center islands will be paved July 6-10, and phase II will begin July 13-17 with travel lanes shifting from the east side to the west side of Main Street.

The total project is estimated to cost $11.5 million, with $9.2 million in federal dollars, $2.07 million in state dollars, and $224,000 in town dollars. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2012.

Lindsey Macdonald is a student at Virginia Tech and an intern for the New River Voice.