10th Street remains a problem
WDBJ 7 is reporting that a "serious" accident has closed all lanes of Orange Ave from 10th Street to Gainsboro. No details have been given and the exact location of the accident is not known at this point. What is a reality for people living in the area is that ever since Roanoke City removed the traffic light at 11th Street and Orange when they widened 10th Street there have been a number of accidents in the area since then.
WFIR reported concerns from locals about the issue in 2018 and I have personally observed at least 6 accidents in the area since then. Last July two cars were in the front yard of the home at the Intersection of Orange and 10th and at least twice vehicles had crashed in the parking lot of the BP convenience store across the street. I have witnessed the aftermath of 2 accidents where traffic was rerouted from 10th near 10th and Williamson in the past 6 months and citizens as well as the owner of the BP at 11th and Orange have complained to City officials to no avail. A response they gave in 2018 did not even scratch the surface of the current dilemma.
The City's response at the time did not address the current situation
The signal was removed as part of the 10th Street Improvements Project. Prior to the project, left turns from westbound Orange Avenue to southbound 10th Street were restricted during daytime hours and traffic traveling south on 10th Street had to turn left on 11th Street and then come back to 10th Street. As part of the project, a dedicated left-turn lane was created on Orange Avenue to accommodate this turning movement. With the construction of the turn lane, much of the traffic that turned left onto 11th Street before the project was relocated to 10th Street. With the decrease in turning volumes, the signal was no longer warranted according to national standards that guide these decisions.I
I have witnessed vehicles speed up Orange Avenue heading West on a regular basis and very rarely pay attention to the pedestrian crosswalk flashing lights leaving individuals trying to cross the dangerous street at their own risk. Thankfully, thus far there have been no reports that anyone has been hurt trying to cross the street.
Problems continue with the new 10th Street
Advance Auto is on the opposite corner of Broron and there is a lot of traffic in that direction. Children and older adults are always walking through the area and others are also people on bicycles and motorized vehicles. Most citizens I have spoken with say they don't know why the 11th Street light had to be removed and the City never really gave a good explanation.
Residents in the area say they feel that no one cares because in 5 years things are still dangerous. Residents and those driving through the area are living a nightmare that City planners are not because they do not frequent the location. People in the area do not want anyone to get hurt or killed first before this is properly addressed. If City officials spent any quality time in this location they would see for themselves that turning traffic has not decreased and accidents continue to happen.
Earlier this year there was an accident on 10th Street near Williamson where a speeding car crashed into a house and last year 2 men died after being ejected from a speeding vehicle on 10th Street which stretches from Williamso to Orange without any traffic lights in between. Perhaps it's time the entire area is given reconsideration because the current setup is not working as people are getting hurt and dying.