Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Result of Valley Republican Inaction on I-81


A series of crashes along Interstate 81 have been causing headaches for drivers in Rockingham County.
The first crash occurred near mile marker 248 in Harrisonburg around 1 p.m. Friday. It closed one northbound lane and backed up traffic for about four miles.

A second crash around 2 p.m. at mile marker 245, also in Harrisonburg, did not cause as many problems.
However, other crashes occurred north of the city, causing backups.
Around 2:30 p.m., a third crash at mile marker 256 in Rockingham County closed one lane in each direction for a time.

Traffic was backed up for about five miles due to this crash. According to 511 Virginia, this was a multi-vehicle crash.

The fourth crash occurred just before 3 p.m. at mile marker 250, also in Rockingham County. The north left lane was closed.
Traffic from this crash was backed up about six miles.

Around 4 p.m., a crash occurred at mile marker 242 south of Harrisonburg and closed one lane on the northbound side. Traffic backed up for about four miles.
Congestion on the interstates may be heavier this weekend as students head home for Thanksgiving break.
 This story comes from WHSV TV3 


These pictures are all from accidents on I-81.

 
Our Valley Delegation to the General Assembly of Virginia has repeatedly refused to take action to prevent this ongoing crisis.

Before his retirement from the Virginia Senate, Republican Kevin Miller proposed raising funds for transportation by a sleight increase in the motor fuels tax.  Republican Steve Landes was quite vocal in his condemnation of the idea.

Senator Emmett Hanger brought the issue up again only to be persecuted time after time by his own Republican party here in the Valley, even to the point that he was opposed in a Republican Primary for re-nomination.


John Lesinski, Gene Hart, Greg Marrow, Erik Curren, and Jeff Price all campaigned on addressing this issue here in the Valley.  As Democrats.

Todd Gilbert, Matthew Lohr, Steve Landes, Dickie Bell, and Ben Cline, all Republicans, each promised to never, ever, no matter what, to support a tax increase for any reason whatsoever.  All of these individuals refuse to tell their constituents the truth about critical infrastructure funding necessities in Virginia, and most importantly to us, here in the Shenandoah Valley.

This day, November 20th 2009, belongs to them...

You are being represented by Todd, Matt, Steve, Dickie, and Ben.  And Mark Obenshain...

We have fewer State Troopers in Rockingham County than we did 25 years ago.  We have an enormous problem on Interstate 81 right here in the Shenandoah Valley.  Where have our guys been?  Where are they now?  Blaming Youtube Videos???

I hope Valley Voters get this figured out...





22 comments:

AE said...

Very glad I chose not to drive home this afternoon.

Anonymous said...

So the past two Democrat governors couldn't do anything to fix the problem ? I wonder if you will feel the same way when Bob McDonnell takes office.

Lowell Fulk said...

Oh they certainly tried anon. Can you say Valley Republicans sign no tax pledge and vote against every plan proposed by Mark Warner and Tim Kaine?

We'll see about Governor Elect McDonnell. He certainly has challenges before him.

Bubby said...

Mark's got "audits".

Bob's got a credit card.

Matt's got nothing.

Anonymous said...

Both Mark Warner and Tim Kaine claimed when they were on the campaign trail they were going to fix the transportation problems.Warner says when he left office he left a budget surplus wonder why he didn't use it to fix the roads then ?

Anonymous said...

Bubby Matt's got one thing, the job your man wanted and with your HELP couldn't get.

Lowell Fulk said...

Don't have a particularly good understanding how our government works, do you anontomjeff?

Orion said...

When Virginia was flush with cash, and ran a large surplus, in which $300 M was transferred from the general fund to transportation in one year, the House of Delegates refused to consider a long term solution to the erosion of the buying power of the $0.175 gas tax, which is now worth less than $0.08 in buying power. Those in the House who have signed Grover Norquist's no tax pledge are simply unable to respond to the needs of Virginians, relying instead on a pledge created by the associate of Jack Abramoff who now sits in federal prison. This is a deplorable abdication of responsibility by the entire majority caucus in the House of Delegates.

Anonymous said...

Fulk i have a very good understanding of how Democrats lie to get elected then don't deliver ANY long term results.YES YOU DID elect a liar.

Orion said...

Hey Rockdem, who is the anonymous idiot?

Atwood said...

It is now the mantra of the valley republican party that if you support a functioning, safe, and efficient transportation system, that constitutes whining. How much farther can we spiral down until whining will include calling attention to the failure of the Commonwealth to fund its mandates to K-12 education, or its absolute denial of its obligation to provide state funding for local roads.

Anonymous said...

Bubby how many names are you going to use son ?

Anonymous said...

Can anyone tell me where DEEDS COUNTRY is ?

Anonymous said...

Isn't Deeds the valley's own ? Why hasn't he done something to fix transportation ?

Lowell Fulk said...

Orion,
Anonymous is just a troll, nothing more. Not bright at all, just persistent.

Anonymous said...

I bet i could match you dollar for dollar Fulk.You might be shocked at how bright i am.

Anonymous said...

Fulk i was alot brighter than you on the past election remember you wouldn't bet me would you ? If you had i would have won and donated your money to the NRA.

Lowell Fulk said...

Shocked at how bright you are?
Probably not. Have you been hiding something?
You're free to say and pretend all you like anontomjeff. You're hiding, remember? Match me dollar for dollar? Good for you! Wanna see who can throw a ball farthest too? You're kinda making my point for me here. Thank you.

Orion said...

I see what you mean.

John Doe said...

What tripe Lowell. The fact that there were accidents does not mean a thing. There is no evidence that the accidents were caused by the roads. You jump to that conclusion yourself. If the road had 5 lanes there would still be accidents.

You are a moron, but worse, you are demagoging tragedies in an attempt to score cheap political points. Thank God it wasn't your child in one of those wrecks, I doubt then that you would be so cavalier with using the wrecks for your own attempted gain.

You want to advocate for higher taxes to spend on wider roads, have the f'n balls to just do it without the theatrics, eh?

Lowell Fulk said...

You know I'm right John. And I have been advocating. Since 2003. Fuel and toll...

Anonymous said...

Well I assent to but I about the collection should have more info then it has.