Safety Improvements Being Planned for Dangerous Intersection

GROTTOES -- The Virginia Department of Transportation is targeting the intersection of Port Republic Rd. and East Side Highway for safety improvements.

The area has become a concern for drivers and numerous accidents have occurred at the intersection for various reasons.

Several people who work nearby say drivers often drive too fast and frequently put themselves and others in dangerous situations.

To help fight some of the problems that have plagued the intersection, VDOT is looking into possibly adding turn lanes to both sides of East Side Highway.

Traffic backups have become common during busy hours and by adding the turn lanes, VDOT hopes it will free up traffic and make it easier to notify other drivers that someone is turning.

There are also plans to add shoulders to the road to make it bigger, as well as roadside ditches.

The plans are not official yet and they still have to be approved.

However, for people for who live and work nearby the improvements can't come soon enough.

"Lots of people are making bad judgements. They're pulling out in front of everybody," explained Patricia Dean, who works at a convenience store that sits on the corner of the intersection. "I've often thought there ought to be a speed limit."

"Traffic is going to pick up with all the developments going on around here," Gayle Cupp, who runs the convenience store, said. "It's better to improve it now than wait until it gets worse."

VDOT has a meeting planned for the public to share their thoughts regarding the project.

It's planned for March 26th at South River Elementary School in Grottoes. It will be held from 4-6pm. is happy to provide a forum for commenting and discussion. Please respect and abide by the house rules:


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