you are going to tell me that they spent what? over 8.7 mil?! here’s the problem – the state is needing money – wait – did they not increase fees/tickets/licensing for those of us living in this state? oh what a wonder?! as i drive this corridor on many occasions, i see these gates up on ramps that don’t need them. these gates we supposed to help flow of traffic leaving the area using both sides of the interstate. yet, they have gates on both sides going up entrance and exit ramps. which means that they actually spent double the amount. because in reality, when everyone goes home, they are not going to have all one way traffic (not like the exodus leaving the hurricane area). it’s a good gesture on the state to have something like this because of the natural panicky state of being human and the result of katrina. because this is a issue, did any money come from UNCLE SAM? it should in actuallity FEMA should have helped with the payment afterall it’s for emergency use. interstate road construction is funded by the US Government. so who did foot the bill? virginians? if so, i think we need to think about our next project and solve it correctly – we already had one blunder in the roadway construction here in the Hampton Roads Area! what we truly needed, was the money spent on light rail throughout the Hampton Roads Area. this would relieve the congestion from the various tunnels, save on gas and time.
wudchuck,
If you had paid attention to what the article said; you would have noted that the reason that they put the gates on both exit AND entrance ramps is so they could reverse the traffic flow if needed. If you were driving on the left side of the interstate where the ramp signs face the opposite direction it would it keep you from going up an entrance ramp the wrong way. As well having the gates there would also prevent traffic coming down the entrance ramp into the front of your car. Another consideration is that having both ramps gated would allow the authorities the ability to control an evacuation by getting the most at risk areas evacuated first, and then progressively further inland as areas are cleared.
Regarding the cost of the system, while each individual gate may not cost that much they are installing at least 2 per exit, and as part of that installation they have to run both control lines and power lines to each gate. I would think that the cost of labor to install each gate makes up most of the cost.
I read the article, in it’s entirety. I stick to my comments as valid. I understand what was said but typical of bureaucrats, they manage to make things more complicated and much more costly..
would you want these people taking care of your check book?
it could have been spent on a better transit system like light rail here in the Hampton Roads Area. here’s the problem, they put them on top and bottom of every ramp whether going east or west. if evacuation is ordered, then it should all be going in the same direction. if folks are entering the highway, there should not be a gate there, if it’s going the same direction anyways. when the evacuation order is deceased, we don’t need to have them rerouted for comeback. make everyone driver in the regular lanes, because the normal folks that still need supplies or other things, will need a lane of travelling. this would have made sense in only one direction of gates, and spent 1/2 of the money. the other half could have been spent on much more needed projects, like light rail in the hampton roads area.
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you are going to tell me that they spent what? over 8.7 mil?! here’s the problem – the state is needing money – wait – did they not increase fees/tickets/licensing for those of us living in this state? oh what a wonder?! as i drive this corridor on many occasions, i see these gates up on ramps that don’t need them. these gates we supposed to help flow of traffic leaving the area using both sides of the interstate. yet, they have gates on both sides going up entrance and exit ramps. which means that they actually spent double the amount. because in reality, when everyone goes home, they are not going to have all one way traffic (not like the exodus leaving the hurricane area). it’s a good gesture on the state to have something like this because of the natural panicky state of being human and the result of katrina. because this is a issue, did any money come from UNCLE SAM? it should in actuallity FEMA should have helped with the payment afterall it’s for emergency use. interstate road construction is funded by the US Government. so who did foot the bill? virginians? if so, i think we need to think about our next project and solve it correctly – we already had one blunder in the roadway construction here in the Hampton Roads Area! what we truly needed, was the money spent on light rail throughout the Hampton Roads Area. this would relieve the congestion from the various tunnels, save on gas and time.
One word for the problem–BUREAUCRATS …CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE LIKE UNDER A SOCIALIST SYSTEM..?GOOD GRIEF!
wudchuck,
If you had paid attention to what the article said; you would have noted that the reason that they put the gates on both exit AND entrance ramps is so they could reverse the traffic flow if needed. If you were driving on the left side of the interstate where the ramp signs face the opposite direction it would it keep you from going up an entrance ramp the wrong way. As well having the gates there would also prevent traffic coming down the entrance ramp into the front of your car. Another consideration is that having both ramps gated would allow the authorities the ability to control an evacuation by getting the most at risk areas evacuated first, and then progressively further inland as areas are cleared.
Regarding the cost of the system, while each individual gate may not cost that much they are installing at least 2 per exit, and as part of that installation they have to run both control lines and power lines to each gate. I would think that the cost of labor to install each gate makes up most of the cost.
I read the article, in it’s entirety. I stick to my comments as valid. I understand what was said but typical of bureaucrats, they manage to make things more complicated and much more costly..
would you want these people taking care of your check book?
This money would have been better spent in Northern Virginia. It is time we get our fair share.
it could have been spent on a better transit system like light rail here in the Hampton Roads Area. here’s the problem, they put them on top and bottom of every ramp whether going east or west. if evacuation is ordered, then it should all be going in the same direction. if folks are entering the highway, there should not be a gate there, if it’s going the same direction anyways. when the evacuation order is deceased, we don’t need to have them rerouted for comeback. make everyone driver in the regular lanes, because the normal folks that still need supplies or other things, will need a lane of travelling. this would have made sense in only one direction of gates, and spent 1/2 of the money. the other half could have been spent on much more needed projects, like light rail in the hampton roads area.