Residents angry over deadly crossing
The Daily Progress
Some residents put partial blame for Sydney Aichs’ death on the site itself.
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
By Brandon Shulleeta
Daily Progress staff writer
Published: July 1, 2008
After a teenager was killed recently, Albemarle residents are calling a U.S. 29 intersection a death trap. Tuesday night, the Virginia Department of Transportation proposed safety improvements, but some residents — about 160 in attendance — complained that the recommendations were too little, too late.
Turning onto U.S. 29 from Ashwood Boulevard, Sydney Aichs, 16, was hit by a tractor-trailer in May. Police say Aichs died at the scene after a driver ran a red light and smashed into the side of her car.
Attendees of Tuesday’s meeting said the intersection is partially to blame: drivers climb up a hill and are met with a stoplight on the way down.
“We had a semi that killed a little girl,” an audience member said during the meeting. “[The truck driver] might not have had time to see the red stoplight.”
Having conducted a safety assessment, VDOT presented proposals to the public at Hollymead Elementary School. More than a dozen residents addressed VDOT and other officials at the meeting.
At the intersection, U.S. 29 doesn’t meet safety standards, according to the VDOT assessment. Stopping sight distance is 20 feet short of meeting safety standards.
Residents were often testy and received applause for condemning the slow process of VDOT decreasing the speed limit near the 29-Ashwood intersection from 55 mph to 45. Transportation officials propose a reduction to a 45 mph speed limit but said the department likely wouldn’t enact the change until late this summer, citing state procedures that need to be carried out.
“What’s the delay?” a resident asked, his face red and hand trembling, adding that “everybody in this room” understands that the speed limit needs to be reduced immediately.
Drivers heading up a hill cannot see the stoplight at the bottom of the hill where 29 and Ashwood Boulevard intersect; currently there are warning signs that flash. VDOT recommends new signs that flash only when the stoplight is about to turn red (or is red), warning: “When flashing, prepare to stop,” VDOT spokesman Lou Hatter said in an interview earlier Tuesday.
The new signs would be similar to those along the U.S. 250 Bypass in Charlottesville.
Among other recommendations, VDOT is calling for a slight extension of the time that the lights stay red, and more warning signs. The department also recommends moving the light “STOP bar” forward, to improve visibility. Most of the changes are expected to occur this year.
One woman asked why the maximum safe speed is marked at 35 mph in the intersection, while the law allows drivers to travel at 55 mph. According to the report, the average driver travels between 45 and 54 mph through the intersection.
Hatter said 51,000 vehicles typically cross the intersection each day. He said VDOT safety assessments are standard after fatal accidents.
According to the report, there were 102 crashes at the U.S. 29-Ashwood intersection from 2003 to 2007, resulting in 47 injuries.
Page 1 of 1
Post a Comment
The commenting period has ended or commenting has been deactivated for this article.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Elliott ) on July 02, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Having TWICE been in multicar rear-end collisions on Route 29 approaching Ashwood Boulevard, I can attest to the asinine design of the intersection and its approach which invites accidents. Going north on 29 the speed limit is 45 mph going past Walmart and over the bridge. THEN everyone is given a 55 mph speed limit sign, encouraging drivers to hit the gas. Some 75 yards later is the warning to slow down to 35 as you go over the hill. Traffic backs up to the top of the hill from the hidden traffic light and the warning comes too late!
The first time a driver hit a minivan which was pushed into a sports car which then rear-ended me. The second time a car rear-ended me and pushed me into another vehicle. No one was driving recklessly in either situation. We are being encouraged to accelerate into invisible stopped traffic over the hill.
I have been very tempted to take a hacksaw to the 55 mph sign and solve part of the problem or paint it 35 mph.
I have stopped repairing my car anymore and at times have turned on my blinking hazard lights as I go over the Rivanna river bridge approaching this intersection to minimize being hit for a third time!
Driving from Greene County every day, I can tell you the average speed coming into town is more like 70 mph and there are many blind entrances onto Route 29 with no traffic lights. I can reduce my risk of hitting someone by slowing down but not my risk of being rear-ended a third time.
Flatten the hills or make it limited access or put speed traps both ways every day or put in cameras for running red lights but let’s do something before the next avoidable fatality.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Emily17 ) on July 02, 2008 at 11:12 am
I feel I must respond to the previous post on this story. There are two turn lanes from Ashwood onto 29 South. Sydney was in the second, and there was a driver in the left one. That driver did see the oncoming semi in time to stop. However, due to the hill and the blocked view caused by a neighboring car, for any driver to see an oncoming car they would have to pull forward into the intersection. This would have happened to any driver regardless of age or driving experience.
Yes, the driver is ultimately at fault for running the light. But this concern had been brought to the attention of VDOT since the creation of the intersection, which is why residents are so upset. It should not take a loss of life in order for measures to be taken to make conditions safe for all.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( mwg694@yahoo.com ) on July 02, 2008 at 9:37 am
Of course Albemarle residents are angry, no one wants to accept responsibility for their actions in our society. If we are injured or killed by our own actions or neglect, then someone else must be at fault. In this case the VDOT must bear the burden. If the residents of Forest Lakes don’t like the conditions at the intersection of Rt. 29 and Ashwood Blvd. they should either sell their house and move away or don’t use this intersection. They can always drive a mile or two out of their way and use the intersection of Rt. 29 and Hollymead Drive or even further to Timberwood Blvd. Why not just close the cross-over at Ashwood Blvd.? How can these residents call this intersecton a “death trap”? As I understand the data, this tragedy is the first fatal incident at this intersection in more than five years. Does anyone really think that the changes VDOT is implementing will change driver behavior at this intersecion? According to the data provided by VDOT, sight distance on northbound Rt. 29 is in excess of 1000ft. This is more than twice the recommended stopping sight distance according to the VDOT study. So the truck driver saw and ignored the yellow and red traffic signals. He must have been hell bent on reaching his destination. Sydney Aichs presumably had a green light. A green light means you have permission to proceed, not a right. Apparently Ms. Aichs never saw the movie “Million Dollar Baby” in which a critical line was: “What is the first rule?“ Answer: “Always protect yourself”. Ms. Aichs was too young to drink alcohol (21yrs), too young to vote or purchase tobacco (18yrs), or even donate blood though this age requirement has recently been reduced to address the shortage of supply. Yet Ms. Aichs was provided a 3000 pound lethal weapon and a license to use it. Every motor vehicle has at least two pedals available to the operator, an accelerator and a brake. Did she turn her head to the left to see if the way was clear to proceed? Did she consider her brake as an option? Did she protect herself at all times? Residents are angry at themselves, yet they are convinced that someone else must be at fault. VDOT has broad shoulders and deep pockets. They certainly can and must protect us from ourselves.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Gordie ) on July 02, 2008 at 8:57 am
First, the average speed on Route 29 between Cville and Ruckersville is 65MPH.
Second, VDOT could put Rumble Strips before all short sighted intersection. They have done this near Madison.
Third, where have all these citizens been for all the years VDOT wanted a Bypass to get rid of all those bad intersections?
Fourth, VDOT has always been a day, weeks or years late on all safety issues. Common VDOT reply, “Must Study”.
Report Inappropriate Comment