New entrance into Safeway Center

Saul is currently working with VDOT to see if an entrance can be added into the Safeway shopping center off of Claiborne Parkway.
It would be a right turn in only, with no exit. VDOT wouldn't allow the exit back onto Claiborne due to the proximity to the Greenway entrance.
The new entrance would be past Bonefish Grill, near the Starbucks.
This would hopefully eliminate a lot of the traffic that currently uses the entrance at Demott.
Saul has asked for HOA support for this. There is some difference of opinion amongst the Board members as to whether the HOA should endorse this.
What do you think?

 

Great idea!

 

Excellent, but since VDOT is part of solution, how long do you think this will take? more than 2 years?

 

excellent idea.

has anyone seen the line of cars trying to get in to shopping center on a saturday night? three weeks ago, the cars turning into the entrance were backed up to the intersection of claiborne pkwy and broadlands blvd. bad.

it is also a mess at the intersection of demott dr and broadlands blvd. i've seen many dangerous situations as the cars attempt to exit the shopping center - going straight across the intersection. the volume of cars turning into the shopping center combined with the speed of the vehicles coming up the hill from st theresa's will eventually lead to something serious.

good luck on this endeavor.

 

The shopping center is becoming increasingly more crowded, at times chaotic. There also seems to be an increase in traffic coming up Broadlands making a right into the center -- I wonder if they ever pave that small section of Shellhorn if that will add more -- but it seems that we'll eventually need a light at Demott, perhaps not.

Could it be troublesome in the morning with Starbucks patrons slowing to make a right and traffic getting on the Greenway?

It is almost as if the shopping center has too many businesses and not enough parking to support customers - has this been considered in the planning? This parking lot, at times, echos the current state of commuting and the over population of our area.

 

I think it's a great idea. A few months ago, we needed to go to the shopping center but there was an accident at the intersection of Demott and Broadlands Blvd. at the shopping entrance. Police weren't letting any vehicles into the shopping center so there were no alternatives but to park near the townhomes and apartments and walk across the street to get to the center. If something like this occurs again at least there would be another way to get into the shopping center. During the accident you could still exit by the Safeway Gas, but that was only limited to cars that were in the center prior to the accident, although I did see one car drive across the median to enter the shopping center at the Safeway Gas entrance.

 

Saul does intend to put in a traffic light at the entrance by Demott. This will occur after Broadlands Blvd is completed from Rte 659 to Faulkner Parkway.
Traffic on the road will pick up significantly when this work is completed.

 

Shopping centers make money renting square footage. They don't make money in the parking lots. Consequently, I've found parking lots around here are woefully inadequate (but meet county requirements).
I think the Southern Walk Center parking lot is going to be a disaster. I've pointed this out to Van Metre, but they disagree. Time will tell............

 

Finally ... someone was thinking ..

From a distance, the only thing that I can see as a problem is that I remember that the turn lane for the Greenway started around the area of the proposed location (just verified that via Google Maps), will they extend the turn lane into the existing green space there to the corner ??

FWIW ... I think an entry only driveway would definitely help to eliminate much of the dangerous left turn issues currently at Demott, and provide some relief from the current traffic flow issues in the parking lot.

As a former HOA and Board member, I would endorse this if I were still living in the Broadlands.

 

Yes, the turn lane will be extended back to Broadlands Blvd.

 

Another entry is DEFINITELY a must in my book. I'm all for it.

 

Is there no chance of turning the Demott/Broadlands intersection into a 4-way stop in the meantime? I'm guessing it's still going to be awhile before the stoplight is installed, and a 4-way stop would certainly help the folks trying to cross Broadlands Blvd.

 

I'm no civil engineer, but I see that as backing up BADLY to the Claiborne/Broadlands intersection.

 

How about that new entrance that the SUV drivers have made for themselves on Broadlands into the gas station. One of them even knocked over the split median sign, bravo! Here's to you mister SUV driver!

 

Oh, it wasn't only the SUV drivers... I saw ALL sorts of cars doing it. Like $70,000 BMX sedans, Lexus, Acuras. Great fun to watch. No idea what people were thinking. Anyone see the muffler out there?

 

Cliff, have you heard when Broadlands Blvd is planned to be connected to 659?

 

You know I have always lived in high growth areas and the stories never change just the names. ha ha ha ha ha

Lee j

 

Vam Metre's latest projection is "this summer." I've heard that for three years.

 

Great idea for the 2nd entrance. My understanding is that VDOT isn't building the entrance, Saul is. Thus, it won't take years and years. It's already in the County for review, and VDOT just provides comments upon review of the plans.

The Demott/Broadlands light is a good idea. People going straight from Demott into the shopping center could care less that people on Broadlands Blvd have the RIGHT-OF-WAY. It's called a stop sign, folks, and that means you actually have to stop!! Especially in ice.....(sorry for the rant)

 

Good news DCdavis! I assume this will take as long as it took for VDOT and the County to get the Broadlands/Ashburn Farm bike path completed.:rolleyes2:

Eight years isn't that long