December 15, 2010

The portion of Watts Passage that runs just above the railroad tracks has long been causing concern for drivers and nearby residents.

"We hear a lot of squealing tires of brakes and that is how I know people miss the curve," said Greg Morgoglione, who lives nearby at the top of the hill.

Watts Passage runs between Route 20 and Route 29 in Albemarle County. The Virginia Department of Transportation says the road is not on the priority list for new signage, but VDOT's Lou Hatter says he believes that portion of Watts Passage is dangerous.

Many of Virginia's roads were designed several decades ago and were initially gravel. Since then, the roads have been paved over and traffic has increased. Hatter says today's drivers take these narrow roads too fast.

On Watts Passage, most drivers travel above the 15 mph speed limit, however, there is not a history of what VDOT considers to be significant crashes on this road. Hatter says if people are concerned about the road they should contact the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to get the area on the secondary road list of improvements.

“We have the power to be pro-active instead of re-active. That's what I was hoping to help facilitate. It's just about making these roads safe for everybody,” explained Morgoglione.