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VDOT reports on mowing and paving; board approves abandonment of discontinued Route 57 segment and asks staff to investigate drainage complaints
Summary
VDOT updated supervisors on mowing and paving timelines and confirmed three remaining paving projects. The board approved abandonment of a discontinued section of Route 57 and residents raised localized drainage and culvert problems; supervisors asked VDOT and district staff to follow up with residents.
Lisa Hughes, representing the Virginia Department of Transportation, told the Henry County Board of Supervisors on July 22 that the agency is starting a second round of mowing on primary roads and has three remaining repaving projects (Oak Leahy Road, Wheeler Avenue and North Fork Road off Route 57). She said a SmartScale-funded Dogwood Road improvement project is tentatively set to be advertised in December.
The board also held and closed a public hearing on a VDOT request to abandon a discontinued 0.081-mile section of Route 57 (Chatham Road) near Stockton Road in the Irishwood district. Staff recommended abandonment because the segment was discontinued by VDOT in 1983 following a realignment and "there is no public necessity for this continued existence of this section of the road." Supervisor Dillon moved to approve the abandonment as presented; the motion passed 6-0.
During the public-comment portion of the evening session, residents from Ridgeway and nearby areas raised separate drainage complaints and showed meeting attendees photographs. Mike Tipton described repeated flooding behind his business near Joseph Martin Highway and provided a petition with 18 signatures asking for ditch and culvert upgrades and trash removal. He told supervisors the storm drains and roadside ditches need clearing and that trash and logs obstruct flow.
Another resident, David Craig, reported repeatedly clearing clogged culverts and said he found a rusted culvert with the bottom eroded and exposed under the roadway on Crestridge Road near Frog Hollow Road; he warned the erosion threatened the roadbed and requested VDOT attention. "This is part of our infrastructure. If this continues to erode, the drive of the road would just collapse in," Craig said.
Chairman Jim Adams acknowledged the concerns and asked Ms. Hughes to meet with the residents and the Ridgeway district supervisor after the meeting to review the photographs and inspect the sites.
Ending: The board approved the Route 57 abandonment 6-0 and directed VDOT staff to follow up on drainage and culvert concerns raised by residents; supervisors said staff would coordinate local inspections and potential maintenance actions.
