Street Beat for Jan. 30

Q: This is in reference to sensors not picking up vehicles at the intersection of Meadowville Road and Interstate 295. Two weeks ago, I sent the Virginia Department of Transportation an email about the same problem at that intersection, except it concerned my two-wheeler.

I've had to take advantage of the new Virginia law allowing a motorcycle to treat a red light the same as a stop sign after 120 seconds and proceed through the intersection when it can be done safely. I hope your interest will result in a fix. — Robert L.

A: I knew that motorcycles sometimes have trouble triggering the traffic sensors that change the lights. But I wasn't aware of this law until I received your comments. You are right. I looked it up in the Virginia Code so I could share it with other readers.

The law applies to motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles, and it requires them to come to a full stop at the intersection. If the light does not change for two complete cycles of the traffic light or for two minutes, whichever is shorter, the rider can proceed through the intersection.

But riders must make sure that it is safe to proceed, and they must yield to other vehicles approaching the intersection.

Q: I remember that a blinking red traffic light is treated like a stop sign and a blinking yellow is treated as a caution sign. This morning, a traffic light in front of a fire station in Mechanicsville was blinking green-yellow-green at half-second intervals. I don't know how to respond to green-yellow. I slowed down just in case. The fire station doors were closed and the lights were off. No firetrucks or EMT vehicles were headed out. Maybe the flashing green-yellow signal celebrates a sports team victory. — William W.

A: After checking around, I could find no indication that this is a legitimate signal. Most likely it was a test or a malfunction.

Or maybe there was a Green Bay Packers fan involved. Did you see any cheeseheads around?

Q: I contacted you last summer about the problems at the intersection of Woolridge Road/Old Buckingham Road and Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County. You had contacted the appropriate entity, and assurances were made that improvements were to be made. None has been.

The problem is that traffic headed across Midlothian Turnpike on Woolridge Road is not notified of the fact that the road changes from two lanes to one.

A: It turns out that VDOT wanted to check on whether this area would be repaved in the spring, said Dawn Eischen. The department doesn't like to apply markings if they are going to be paved over.

No paving is planned for the area anytime soon, Eischen said. So crews should be out today to apply the markings, unless it rains.

Information: Go to TimesDispatch.com, search: traffic.

Ride Sharing: In the Find section and at TimesDispatch.com, search: rideshare.

Pothole reports: Now when you bump into a particularly bad pothole, you can report it. Search for "Street Beat" at

TimesDispatch.com. On this interactive map, you can report potholes, broken traffic lights and other unsafe conditions, and you can see locations of some of the worst potholes that others have reported. Don't get mad, get online.

Horsepen Road

Between Charles and Broad streets.

Expect delays during road work for waterline installation.

North Gaskins Road south

Between Patterson Avenue and Derbyshire Road.

Reduced to one lane of traffic for the next two or three weeks.

State Route 10 west

At bridge east of Old State Road and Interstate 95.

All lanes closed 10 p.m. tonight to 5 a.m. Tuesday. Detour posted.

State Route 10 east

Between Krause and Centralia roads.

Right lane closed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.