Community Developments

This month, the Williamson Road Area Business Association (WRABA) in conjunction with the Roanoke County Administration, Police, Community Development and General Services Departments as well as the Virginia Department of Transportation finished up a series of four walks on Williamson Road.

The walks served to inventory conditions on Williamson Road and consider the need for new pedestrian amenities.

Williamson Road gets regular pedestrian traffic, but like many County roads it does not have continuous sidewalks or safe road shoulders for pedestrians to use. WRABA's Executive Director, Wendy Jones, realized that the best way to demonstrate the difficulty of walking down Williamson Road was by pushing a baby stroller from one end to the other.

"Each month for the last four months our group would meet at the next section of the road at 4:00 p.m., don our safety vests, grab our waters and trash bags and set out walking against traffic with the stroller," said Wendy. "On the route we collected information about that the repairs and amenities that were needed."

Traffic counts in each of these sections average 11,000 vehicles per day (according to 2015 VDOT records), and some segments experience heavy bicycle and pedestrian activity from residents who live along Williamson Road.

The segments ran from:

1. 5411 Williamson Road to Williamson and Club House Drive
2. Williamson and Club House Drive to Williamson and Peter’s Creek Road
3. Williamson and Peter’s Creek Road to Hollins University
4. Hollins University to Williamson and Shadwell

Wendy chose to conduct the walks at rush hour on weekday afternoons to get an idea of what a pedestrian experiences when traffic is heaviest. At each walk, Roanoke County Police officers volunteered to observe and sometimes escort the group for safety purposes.

The most frightening observation of the road was how much of it lacked a safe space for pedestrians to walk. In addition, curves in the road and rolling terrain decreased visibility for drivers as well as pedestrians.

"I’d like to thank all of the wonderful drivers of cars and 18 wheelers who moved over a lane to accommodate us; thank you!" said Wendy. "Chief Hall and Officer Bruch had their heart rates raised more than once with a baby stroller walking on the edge of the road!"

They were not the only ones alarmed by the walks. "On our last day a Roanoke County Patrol Officer, who was not aware of the walks, saw us and turned around, then stopped with the intention of telling us we needed to get off the road for our safety," said Wendy. "Officer Bruch swiftly contacted him and we proceeded. We do thank them for looking out for us!"

That experience most clearly demonstrated Wendy's point: Williamson Road is not friendly to foot traffic, and most pedestrians don't have a Police escort.

Wendy concluded that the walk series, while sometimes hair-raising, accomplished what she hoped it would. "I feel our eyes were opened to needs along the road and there are now discussions and plans in the works for improvements. So, keep your eyes out for things to come in the next few years!"

Thanks to Roanoke County Police, Community Development, VDOT and WRABA Board members for their participation in these walks.