Port Republic Road is a typical two-lane road with an atypical purpose because it serves as an artery to a major Valley lifeline: the new Rockingham Memorial Hospital.

The new hospital is located on the corner of Port Republic and Reservoir Street in Harrisonburg.

Right now, Rockingham County Administrator Joseph Paxton says traffic congestion is a problem and reconstruction is essential.

"The improvement of this road for the opening of the new RMH is critical for safety of the traveling public and for the safety emergency vehicles getting to and from the hospital," says Paxton.

Under the planned improvements, Port Republic Road would be expanded to four lanes. With the possibility of $22 million from stimulus funding being pumped into expanding the road, Paxton says he expects the board to give this project the green light. Hospital planners agree, saying it's time to get started.

RMH Director of Planning and Facilities Dennis Coffman says, "From our standpoint, the best would be to get it all done before we open, but I don't think timing will let us do it all. So our second fall back would be then, 'Can we get the section in front of the hospital done first.'"

Once the hospital opens and traffic patterns are altered, noise levels could be an issue. Builders spoke with neighbors about their concerns.

"It was really interesting, one of the neighbors said to me, 'You know, I may be disturbed by the sound of the squads or helicopter coming in, but I always stop and say, that's someone's life being saved,'" says Coffman.

RMH planners say the hospital has contingency plans through Reservoir Street and Port Republic Road should funding fall through, but they also say this expansion is the best option.

Paxton feels the project should be approved by the transportation board and says the opening of the hospital has accelerated the approval.