The intersection where the Kempsville High School parking lot meets Manor Drive doesn't pass the ugly test.
You can see the problem when you look at it.
The entrance to the parking lot is in the middle of a curve.
There's no sign control on westbound Manor, just a stop sign exiting the school parking lot and a yield sign on eastbound Manor - both of which are widely ignored, reader Susan Segeleon told The Warrior.
And, because of the "geometrics" of the intersection, Segeleon said, it's hard to tell who's doing what.
"I have had at least 10 occasions this year where I was almost hit by those either exiting or entering this parking lot from Manor Drive," wrote Segeleon, who lives off Manor.
With another entrance to the school, Chief Trail, off Kempsville Road, Segeleon believes the answer is to close the parking lot access to Manor.
While I was visiting last week, it was apparent more folks use Manor than Chief Trail. So I wasn't surprised when schools spokeswoman Kathleen O'Hara told me that the Manor entrance won't be closed.
"With 400 student drivers, more than 100 staff members and 42 school buses, not to mention visitors to the property, the resulting traffic congestion would be problematic," O'Hara said.
O'Hara said transportation director David Pace will ask bus drivers to be "highly observant," and that Principal Shea Paisley will pass a similar message along to students and staff.
Which sounds good.
Segeleon said she's received such assurances before so she's still skeptical.
I've asked the police to take a look at the situation, but enforcement isn't a long-term remedy.
Chesapeake Expressway Lanes will be closed through May 15 as crews clean bridge joints.
Virginia Beach Paving on Military Highway, between Wayside Bridge and the Chesapeake city line, continues for another two to three weeks.
March 11, The Warrior wrote about Hampton Roads Transit bus drivers who were failing to use a turnoff at the corner of Pacific Avenue and 19th Street at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The turnoff is designed to get buses off the main drag, Pacific Avenue.
Dick Powell told me the drivers were ignoring it in the interest of saving a couple minutes. He said the stopped buses create traffic jams.
The Warrior forwarded Powell’s concerns, and HRT spokesman James Toscano said the message to use the turnoff would be broadcast, loud and clear.
The Warrior then heard from a couple readers who reported continued breeches. I forwarded that information to Toscano.
There’s good news to report.
“The buses pull into the turnoff and we have had lots of people thank us,” Powell told me last week.
Mail: Pilot Warrior, The Virginian-Pilot, 150 W. Brambleton Ave.
, Norfolk, VA 23510
Call: (757) 446-2525. Describe the problem and where it’s occurring, and leave your name (spelled out), city of residence and phone number.
The volume of questions means I can’t promise a response.
Pilot Warrior is published Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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