Stop signs removed

Vines Center intersection undergoes changes

Officials removed stop signs at the crossing between DeMoss Drive and the Furnace parking lot on University Boulevard at the beginning of the spring 2014
semester.

According to Charles Spence, senior vice president of Planning and Construction, revisions to the intersection located in front of the Vines Center motivated the change.

“The signs were needed in the past because the intersection had two roads coming into it,” Spence said. “Now, there’s only one road and a parking lot entrance, so we generally do not make a traffic stop for a parking lot entrance.”

He said the decision was made by a committee of representatives from the Liberty University Police Department, grounds and road crews, the construction and planning office, engineering and the university administration.

“We realize that the road has been a little busy this semester, but a lot of the traffic was due to the temporary closure of the north side of Regents Parkway, which has since reopened,” Spence said.

“You should start seeing a significant traffic reduction on the main road as folks rediscover the new Regents Parkway.”

Alex Argyropoulos, a junior at Liberty, said he believes removing the stop signs has helped reduce congestion.

“It keeps the traffic flowing more quickly, and there’s less traffic on campus,” Argyropoulos said.

Spence said traffic flow will continue to improve on campus as vehicular tunnels to Wards Road open later this spring, and a new parking garage is completed by the beginning of the fall 2014 semester.

Argyropoulos said, while he is glad to have one less stop on University Boulevard, he is concerned about possible hazards at the intersection.

“Some people will speed through, and they won’t even look for pedestrians and any other vehicles turning around there, so it can be a safety issue,” Argyropoulos said.

Spence said while traffic continues to improve, officials are considering temporary measures to improve safety for pedestrians using cross walks at the intersection.

“Conversations are underway to determine if additional measures are needed, such as a traffic patrol officer during heavy traffic times or some other form of traffic calming devises to slow the traffic down without causing the traffic to completely stop,” he said.