1. Will there be a weight limit on trucks or no trucks limitation? If not, how does the community go about getting this?
Response: The project does not intend on providing weight limit restrictions along Baker Road Extended or restrict trucks altogether. The purpose of this project is to provide for an alternate east-west connector between Newtown Road and Witchduck Road to help reduce traffic demand on Virginia Beach Boulevard and Wesleyan Drive. As such, it must be able to accommodate truck traffic. The existing and proposed roadways are fully capable of handling the weight of trucks without limiting factors such as pavement design or aging bridges. Therefore, the roadway will be capable of handling trucks of various sizes and uses, such as moving trucks for neighboring residents, garbage trucks and school buses. The City does consider other actions for legitimate truck issues; however, they can be considered after the project is complete and open to traffic for analysis.
2. Will there be a time limit for trucks (heavy trucks) going down Baker Road? If not, how does the community go about getting this?
Response: The City of Virginia Beach does not administer time limits for truck traffic on any roadway within the City. As mentioned in the previous question, truck traffic is not only delivery trucks for businesses; it is also trucks for neighbors and friends such as moving trucks, furniture delivery trucks, and City garbage trucks. Therefore, one will not be considered with this project.
3. Can we have a pedestrian crosswalk across Baker Road at Bulls Bay Drive to Port Royal Drive; across Lynbrook Drive at Edisto Court to Kiawah Court?
Response: A marked crosswalk across Baker Road at Bulls Bay Drive/Port Royal Drive will be considered with this project. This department will look at pedestrian activity in this area to determine if a marked crosswalk is warranted. The intersection of Lynbrook Landing and Edisto Court is an intersection of two (2) residential streets; therefore, a crosswalk is not warranted.
4. We would also like to have a 4-way stop at the intersections of Bulls Bay Dr (Port Royal) & Baker and Lynbrook Landing & Baker Rd. Can this be provided?
Response: Based off of the information within the Traffic Analysis for this project, the intersections of Baker Road & Bulls Bay Drive and Baker Road & Lynbrook Landing would not meet the federal criteria for a 4-way stop installation. Therefore, 4-way stops will not be installed.
5. Why does the city need to acquire the area at Bulls Bay Drive and Lynbrook from WDL? What is the purpose of acquiring this area that connects to private property?
Response: This area includes the accessible curb ramps with the 10-ft asphalt path landing areas as well as a Dominion VA Power Light pole. These items will be maintained by the City of Virginia Beach and are, therefore, required to be within the Right of Way.
6. Is it possible to have a stop light at the corner of Lynbrook Landing and Bulls Bay Drive?
Response: Based off of the information within the Traffic Analysis for this project, the intersection of Lynbrook Landing and Bulls Bay Drive would not meet the federal warrants for a traffic signal installation. Therefore, a traffic signal will not be installed.
7. Can we have speed bumps along Baker Road Ext.?
Response: The City of Virginia Beach does not place speed bumps along public streets for various reasons.
a) They can damage the undercarriage of vehicles.
b) They can propel motorcyclists off the roadway into adjacent property.
c) They reduce emergency vehicle response times and increase jarring of patients.
d) They indirectly cause speeding to make up for apparent lost time to the driver.
e) They can create a noise nuisance for neighboring houses from braking, acceleration, and undercarriage squeals.
8. The area where the shrubs are located along Proposed Baker Road; does that belong to the City?
Response: The Shrubs (wax myrtles) that are located at the intersection of Proposed Baker Road Extended and Lynbrook Landing are within the City of Virginia Beach’s Right of Way. Approximately 55 linear feet of the shrubs will be removed beginning at the intersection, going west, and 40 linear feet of the stockade fence will be removed and replaced behind the new right of way line. All other existing shrubs will remain. Please see the attached drawing.
9. What type of shrubs or trees will be planted along Proposed Baker Road?
Response: The following trees will be planted: 5 Green Vase Zelkovas, 12 Natchez Crapemyrtles and 22 Willow Oaks. The following shrubs will be planted: 10 Wax Myrtles and 81 Indian Hawthornes.
