Scott P. Rogers
Funkhouser Real Estate Group
540-578-0102  •  email
Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Port Republic Road
Do you drive towards JMU from the County, on Port Republic Road? 
Are you a regular customer at the drive through Starbucks each morning?

You'll need to re-route slightly starting next week - or visit the other Starbucks directly across from JMU campus on weekday mornings starting next Monday.

Starting this coming Monday, August 19, there will be three streets where left turns will be limited on week days between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM and between 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM.

Those streets are:
  • Crawford Avenue - the left turn into the Purcell Park neighborhood after crossing over I-81 and directly after the turn for Starbucks.
     
  • Hillcrest Drive - the second left turn into the Purcell Park neighborhood, directly after Crawford Avenue.

  • Hunters Road - the left turn mentioned at the top of this article, that leads to the Starbucks with the drive through and to Hunters Ridge Condominiums.
Left turns (which would have to cross two lanes of oncoming traffic) will no longer be permitted onto or off of the three streets above during the timeframes noted above.  There will not be any turning restrictions on weekends.

Some further notes from the City of Harrisonburg...
"The changes, which will include signs and flashing lights to remind drivers of the restricted hours, are focused on reducing crashes and congestion at these intersections. Left turns are one of the most dangerous turning movements and are responsible for a high percentage of crashes with injuries. Left turns off of Port Republic Road onto neighborhood streets also have a tendency to cause rear-end crashes when the vehicle turning left has to wait for a gap in traffic and comes to a stop in the through-lane, causing the drivers behind the turning vehicle to have to rapidly or unexpectedly come to a stop."
There are options, though, so maybe you can get your drive through Starbucks fix via Bradley Drive, one turn earlier on Port Republic Road?
"Those traveling to or from the neighborhoods between Main Street and Interstate 81 can use South Main Street as an alternative route during these hours. Those traveling to or from neighborhoods on Hunters Road should use Bradley Drive as an alternative route."
And yes, the City knows these changes won't be convenient for some folks, but...
'The City realizes there is a tradeoff between convenience and safety, and recognizes that some trips will be slightly longer due to this change,' Director of Public Works Tom Hartman said. 'This is the reason for the restriction being limited to only peak travel times.'
'At the end of the day, we want to make sure drivers can safely move through this corridor to get where they are going,' Hartman added. 'And while these changes will take some getting used to, we know the end result will be a much-improved area for all who live in and pass through this area.'
Click here to read more about the Port Republic Road corridor study that was conducted last year.