City evaluates Johnstown Road safety

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - Drivers along two-lane Johnstown Road in the Great Bridge area of Chesapeake admit it's not safe.

"The road's not real wide. Ditches are real deep so I really think they need to widen the road. People fly up and down this road like crazy," driver Brenda Cole.

"It's dangerous the way the speed limits vary and people aren't paying attention and there's no shoulder. It's dangerous. They have to be aware. The people that are driving at all times," added Jane Smith.

The city is taking a detailed look at a two-mile stretch of Johnstown Road between Parker and Hanbury Roads, according to Public Works Engineer Earl Sorey.

"A study is underway to examine the speed characteristics along Johnstown Road -- accident history and the lighting conditions as well," said Sorey.

He says the study should take about a month to complete.

"One of the reasons I want to wait 30 days to do the study is we want to be able to capture the school traffic. School obviously begins in September so we know that those characteristics can change the dynamics along that road as well," Sorey said.

That part of the road doesn't have any sidewalks but he says recent changes have included new traffic signals and more could be on the way.