ROANOKE, Va. – Two weeks into the Wasena Bridge closure, Roanoke residents are raising safety concerns sparked by the new traffic and Greenway detour. The closure for the two-year bridge replacement project is now forcing cars, trucks, pedestrians and bikes to share the street.
For daily Roanoke River Greenway users like Mark Shaver, the detour is less than ideal.
“It’s confusing to everybody,” said Shaver. “There’s so many markings on the road, it’s just like, ‘Where do I go?”
Residents raised their safety concerns at Monday’s Roanoke City Council meeting and demanded action.
“Safety issues, confusing signage, inadequate protection for Greenway users, traffic patterns that force cars down one-way streets the wrong way,” said Jim Hosch, the Wasena Neighborhood Forum president.
Another concerned resident, Michael Shasberger, said that re-routed traffic has led to road rage and property damage.
“Many drivers are not properly attentive one could politely say to the width of that street, causing damage to both parked cars and moving vehicles,” said Shasberger.
Green markings along the roads indicate the new bike lanes and orange detour signs direct drivers and pedestrians, however, some residents said the signs are confusing.
Dennis Pinkley is training for a triathlon and said it was easy enough for him to navigate.
“So far it’s been pretty easy. Just follow the arrows and the green dots,” said Pinkley.
Steven Webb is the owner of Proud Pop’s Barber Shop on Main Street in Wasena. While he said the detour hasn’t hurt his business, it has confused his clients and other drivers.
“Mostly people just taking real hard U-turns and everything just trying to avoid the bridge,” said Webb. “Some people have been late for appointments because of it because they didn’t know about the bridge closing.”
He also worries that two years could turn into more.
“Just concerned about how long it’s going to take. They say two years but I think it’s going to take a little longer than two years,” said Webb.
Two weeks into a two-year closure, Shaver said the adjustment will take time.
“It’s going to be up to traffic to pay attention,” said Shaver. “It might take a couple months for people to get used to it.”