Local leaders press VDOT for school-bus warning sign, crosswalk repainting and truck restrictions on narrow county roads

Andrew Thorpe, Assistant Resident Engineer for VDOT, told the Craig County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 6 that routine maintenance work continues across county routes and that a TE work order has been requested to evaluate curve-warning signage along Route 42 (Cumberland Gap Road) from Looney School Road to Route 311.

Supervisors used the briefing to press for specific safety measures. Supervisor Keith Dunbar asked VDOT to install a flashing warning sign near Mountain View Church because a school bus stop lies immediately around a turn and current signage provides insufficient warning. "There is a sign but no waring sign, it is concerning to area residents," Dunbar said, urging a flashing warning device to forewarn drivers.

Vice Chair Jordan Labiosa asked that a frequently used crosswalk—used in part because the church distributes food assistance—be repainted and equipped with signage. Supervisor Jason Matyas raised the narrower long-term problem of tractor trailers using two lanes on tight turns on routes such as Route 42 and Route 658 and requested consideration of "No Through Traffic for Tractor Trailers" signage and routing data (to discourage GPS routing trucks onto unsuitable county roads).

Thorpe said the TE work-order request is under review and that it may take several weeks to determine what additional signage, if any, is warranted. Ongoing VDOT activities he listed included striping, hand patching, shoulder work, culvert cleaning, pipe replacements and mowing across multiple county routes and in New Castle.

Why it matters: The supervisors' requests aim to reduce crash risk in known trouble spots, protect students at bus stops and limit damage and safety risks from oversized vehicles on narrow local roads. The TE sign evaluation is the formal step VDOT uses to assess the need for traffic-control devices.

Next steps: VDOT will complete its review of the TE work order; the board and staff will follow up if VDOT recommends sign installations or additional treatments.