Lane Ranger fields sink hole inquiry

In this edition: Sink hole in Woodbridge … more on Mine Road …

Dear Lane Ranger: I am writing today about a sink hole on Rosewood Drive. This hole is at the very end of Rosewood and has been there for as long as we have lived here for going on seven years.

The hole sinks, someone calls the police, they come out and put up cones and caution tape and call VDOT… they come out, take a look and eventually PATCH the hole. This happens over and over again about once a year.

Why can't VDOT fix the problem for good instead of just repairing?

Could there be more going on with the ground around us that we should be alarmed about? From what I am told this area use to be very swampy before being developed. Any help or advice you have would be great!! Thanks again for all your help.

Rosewood Drive Neighbor

Dear Neighbor: The good folks from the Virginia Department of Transportation headquarters in Lake Ridge say they don't know what is causing this hole, other than it's an issue with an underground pipe.

In the meantime, they will continue to investigate as they find a permanent repair.

Here's what Dave Brown, from their office, sent in response to your letter: "Our crew … has repaired this spot on one previous occasion. The area was excavated and repaired properly and we expected that repair to solve the problem. Unfortunately, there was some other issue with the pipe that was unseen at the time."

Dear Lane Ranger: Mine Road is not a well-traveled thruway.

If a stop sign was placed there, with a warning sign that said "stopped traffic ahead," it would take just a few days for the locals that use this road to be aware. This road is not used by anyone that doesn't know where it goes, as there is no signage telling where it leads.

As for a roundabout, there is a significant shortage of highway funds. I am sure that two or three signs would be a more cost effective solution, than constructing a traffic circle!

Donato A. Montanaro

Online reader reaction

March 24

What about speed humps along Mine Road? If someone has to pay for car repairs because they went too fast over the speed humps, maybe this would be a deterrent.

AreaDriver

Dear AreaDriver: VDOT has a protocol to handle citizen requests for traffic calming devices, such as speed humps.

Contact your local Prince William County supervisor or Dumfries town council member to start this process.

Please send questions or comments on roads, rail and transit to: Lane Ranger, c/o Potomac News, P.O. Box 2470, Woodbridge, VA 22195; e-mail: laneranger@potomacnews.com.