BLACKSBURG (WSLS 10) - The town of Blacksburg is ready to move forward with a new safety plan for one of the most dangerous intersections in the state, but the Commonwealth Transportation Board may not be.
The CTB approved what was named the R-Cut plan to address concerns at the 460 North Main Street intersection. This would eliminate the left turn option.
But more than 250 community members contacted town leaders to say they wanted a grade separated interchange instead.
Blacksburg leaders had planned to submit an interchange proposal this year, with the R-Cut plan as the back up. However, new policies at the CTB do not allow Blacksburg to keep the R-Cut plan as a back up, if it chooses to submit the interchange proposal for the same project.
While VDOT told the town that an interchange would likely be at least five to six years away, and the R-Cut plan could happen sooner, the town will submit the interchange application anyway in September.
"The community really felt that investing our efforts and our time in an interchange concept has a better long term impact," said deputy town manager Chris Lawrence.
Town council will vote on a resolution Tuesday night asking VDOT to cancel the R-Cut plan.