LANE RANGER: Reduce speed in work zones

Dear Lane Ranger: Does Virginia have reduced speed limit laws in road construction areas? Minnieville is being widened from Cardinal Drive to Spriggs Road. The speed limit here is still posted at 45 mph. This is quite dangerous since there are no turn lanes now. It is very difficult to see cars when turning either way out of the Staples Mill shopping center (near Bloom) onto Minnieville because of the jersey barriers. My other concern is at Cardinal Drive heading west on Minnieville. The right lane is a turn only lane but cars still don’t adhere to the sign. I’ve had several cars force their way over in the intersection just in front of the barrels in front of the 7-[Eleven]. This is another dangerous area. Some states lower the speed limit and require headlights to be on in road construction areas.
Cathy Hindman
Manassas

Dear Cathy: Prince William County police picked up on the same problem you did at the Cardinal Drive and Minnieville Road intersection and in the last month or so have issued in excess of 50 tickets and continue to monitor this intersection, police spokeswoman 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn said in an e-mail recently.

There are guidelines on reducing the speed limit in work zones and the Virginia Work Area Protection Manual states that unless there are extenuating circumstances, roadways generally are safer when the speed limit is “set properly or is realistic, even though it is a higher limit.”

Here’s what Nikki Brown, spokeswoman for Prince William County, sent in response to your letter: “Drivers have an expectation that road construction is completed with minimal impact to travel times. Often times, developers are required to design and construct turn lanes, and the County receives requests from them to reduce the speed limits in the proximity of their construction. This is because at low speeds the traffic control devices required are much less expensive than those for high speed roads. “As you may know the barriers have been removed, so the site distance should be much better now.”

Lane Closures

The Virginia Department of Transportation released the following scheduled lane closures for the Interstate 95 widening project (weather permitting):

• I-95 North
Single right lane closure from Exit 160, Va. 123, to Exit 161, U.S. 1, for crane movement on Tuesday from 2 to 4 a.m. Police will be on site for motorist safety. The ramp from Va. 123 west to I-95 north will be closed for about 10 minutes during this period.

Double right lane closure from Exit 161, U.S. 1, to Exit 163, Va. 642, for crane movement from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday. Police will be on site for motorist safety.

Single lane closure from Exit 160, Va. 123, to Exit 166, Va. 7100, for setting barriers, clearing and retaining wall, ground and electrical work. Closures will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to noon Friday.

• I-95 South
Single lane closure from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday. Electrical work is planned for between Exit 166, Va. 7100, to Exit 160, Va. 123.

The Virginia Department of Transportation released the following lane closures for the Interstate 495 Capital Beltway HOT lanes Project (weather permitting):

• I-495 South
Partial ramp closure at the Exit 45, Va. 267 east, off ramp from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday and Thursday. Test boring is scheduled for those dates. Police will be on site for motorist safety.

Left lane closure at the Interstate 66 interchange from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday and Friday for test boring. Police will be on site for motorist safety.

Multi-lane closure (two lanes closed, two lanes open tom motorists) at Exit 47, Va. 7 interchange, Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., for pavement re-striping. Police will be on site for motorist safety.

• I-495 North
Multi-lane closure (two lanes closed, two lanes open to motorists) at the U.S. 29 overpass Sunday through Tuesday, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., for pavement re-striping. Police will be on site for motorist safety.

Right lane closure at the off ramp to Exit 52, Va. 236 west, from 9:30 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday for test boring. Police will be site for motorist safety.

Partial ramp closure at the off ramp to Exit 47, Va. 7 west, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to noon Friday. Closures will be for scheduled clearing.

• I-66 East
Partial ramp closure at the off ramp to Exit 64, I-495 north, Sunday through Thursday, 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., for test boring. Police will be on site for motorist safety.

• I-66 West
Partial ramp closure at the off ramp to Exit 64, I-495 south, for test boring from 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday. Police will be on site for motorist safety.