Opportunities for Shoulder Improvements

The NRVBA has been talking with the New River Valley Planning District Commission (NRVPDC), Montgomery County, and VDOT representatives about short-term options for improving cycling conditions on our favorite recreational routes in the area.  VDOT has suggested that road maintenance funding may be used to repair and improve shoulders, if and where sufficient graveled foundation or sub-base exists along a VDOT right-of-way and the pavement can be extended laterally by some distance to create additional space on the road for cyclists.

We need your help in creating an inventory of road segments that could be improved with some minimal shoulder work and paving.  So, what specifically do I need from you?  Send me the following information in an email:

• Road name.
• Segment, e.g., between ‘blank’ and ‘blank’.  If the segment doesn’t run between the intersection with one road and another road, try to provide landmarks or the distance from an intersecting road.
• Approximate distance of the segment.
• Pictures.  If you have a smart phone with camera, snap a picture and include it with your email.  If you have time to drive out to the site and snap a picture with a camera, do so.
• For the Google Earth-savvy, send me a kmz file with your road segments mapped and annotated.
• Comments.  Provide any relevant information that can help us prioritize the segment, e.g., road hazards, safety issues, connectivity problems to other safe riding locations, and so forth.

Please respond by June 10, 2010.  If you have any questions, contact Beth Lohman.