Supervisors weigh adding Chicken Mountain, River and Barnes roads to secondary six‑year plan; schedule public hearing

The Orange County Board of Supervisors spent the bulk of its meeting examining proposed changes to the county’s secondary six‑year road plan, discussing which rural roads to advance for construction funding and when to hold a public hearing.

County staff presented a packet on planned projects, funding shortfalls and a draft schedule for fiscal years covered by the secondary plan. Assistant Residency Administrator Willie Gordon said Greenwood Road is currently under construction and reviewed a list of other roads proposed for funding in coming years, including Jones Mill Road, Bushey Mountain Road (Route 626), Harfield Road (Route 666) and Liberty Mills Road (Route 641). Gordon said two projects the board asked staff to compare — Chicken Mountain Road and a segment identified as “River Road” — would compete for the same near‑term funding slot and that River Road likely would cost more than Chicken Mountain.

Why it matters: the county’s choices determine which rural roads get state or district funding and in what years, affecting residents’ travel, farm and commercial access, and local budgets.

Board members questioned traffic counts, petitions from residents and whether segments should be done in multiple phases. Gordon gave two specific cost figures during the discussion: he said the estimate for Chicken Mountain Road was $412,850 and that a Barns/Barnes segment under consideration was estimated at $297,850. Gordon also told the board he did not have a complete estimate for River Road but expected it to be higher than Chicken Mountain.

Supervisors discussed whether Chicken Mountain — used by some drivers as a cut‑through between Routes 20 and 15 — should be added to the funded list despite objections from some residents who fear increased traffic. Board members also raised a citizen petition asking that Price Road be considered; staff confirmed Price Road had been added to an auxiliary list after a petition and that the county would clarify the source and purpose of items shown on that auxiliary list.

On scheduling, the board discussed timing and advertising requirements for a public hearing. Staff described the legal ad run requirements and two‑week notice window for advertising the hearing; after discussion the board indicated it would proceed with the previously planned hearing date and directed staff to move ahead with the public hearing process. No final project appropriation or contract award was made at the meeting.

The discussion also clarified that some projects are already partially funded while others show shortfalls and will be phased or deferred to later fiscal years if funding cannot be realigned.

Board members asked staff to re‑check traffic counts and cost estimates for the River Road and Barnes/Chicken Mountain options and to return with guidance so the board could finalize the plan at the next meeting or at the advertised public hearing.

The meeting packet and staff presentation were referenced during the discussion; supervisors asked that staff circulate any updated cost or traffic data to the board prior to the hearing.

Looking ahead, staff will run the required public‑hearing advertisement and return with updated numbers and a recommended final list for the board to consider at the hearing.