Arrington business owner warns US‑29 corridor changes will increase crashes and harm local commerce

Lisa Saunders, owner of a business near the US‑29/VA‑56 intersection, told supervisors that the proposed corridor changes that would move traffic and require additional U‑turns will increase crash risk and harm her business. She said trucks already strike her drive‑in building and predicted the plan would reroute customers away from Arrington and concentrate traffic at more dangerous points.

Saunders urged enforcement of the posted 45 mph speed limit, stronger compliance with stop signs and yield rules, and questioned whether alternative, lower‑cost fixes had been considered. Her testimony included specific traffic‑flow examples at the Colleen Feed & Seed approach and the Blue Ridge Medical Center lane and called for engineering and enforcement solutions rather than lane reconfiguration that she described as unsafe. The board received the comment during the public‑comment period; staff later reported roadway shoulder and safety projects in presentations during the meeting.