Budget, U.S. 460 intersection on City Council agenda

Lynchburg City Council will tackle a diverse agenda Tuesday with the budget, U.S. 460 and a circus all on deck for discussion.

Council will begin its day with a report on the so-called “jughandle” intersection and other improvements planned for the short stretch of U.S. 460 between Campbell Avenue and the Madison Heights bypass.

Accidents on that road have been on the rise since the bypass opened and ushered in a wave of new traffic. The Virginia Depart-ment of Transportation hopes to improve the thoroughfare over time by sealing off spots where other streets and private drives empty onto it.

This will eliminate conflict points and improve traffic flow, officials say.

The plan, circulated for public comment last year, has drawn protests from residents and business owners due to concerns about longer drives, slower emergency response times and impeded customer access. A representative of the affected neighborhoods has signed up to speak to council about their objections later Tuesday.

The first phase of VDOT’s plan has five elements: eliminate three existing median crossovers, close the Tyreeanna Road/Holcomb Path Road intersection and build a jughandle intersection at the existing crossing with Concord Turnpike.

A jughandle is a special loop designed to handle left-turning traffic. It is uncommon in Virginia, but VDOT feels it will be safer than a traditional turning lane given the added pressure that intersection will face once the proceeding median cross-overs are closed.

All reports about U.S. 460 will be strictly informational. It is not clear what, if any, action may be taken by council on the matter.

Council will also receive the city manager’s budget proposal today outlining his recommendations for the new fiscal year beginning July 1. This presentation will kick off a two-month-long series of budget work ses-sions. Final approval of the budget is expected in May.

Also on the agenda is a permit request from Cole Bros. Circus, which is seeking permission to put on two days of shows in April on the campus of Presbyterian Homes & Family Services. Resi-dents of the surrounding Peak-land neighborhood have spoken against this request, citing a range of concerns that include traffic hazards and incompatibility with the residential area.

The planning commission has recommended that the circus be given a permit. Council has final authority over the matter. It will convene a public hearing prior to deliberating on the request.

Each of these issues will be spread out over two meetings, both of which will take place in City Hall, 900 Church St. VDOT’s report on U.S. 460 and the city manager’s budget proposal will be heard during a 5 p.m. work session. The circus request and neighborhood comments regarding U.S. 460 will be heard during a 7:30 p.m. business meeting.