VDOT and county engineers report road projects, Elmont Road bridge closure; county debate over $400,000 sidewalk extension on Route 301

Virginia Department of Transportation and Hanover County public works staff updated the Board of Supervisors on April 11 about scheduled road projects, an upcoming bridge closure and design issues affecting a Route 301 sidewalk that supervisors called expensive and asked to return to the roads committee.

VDOT maintenance, Elmont Road bridge replacement and retirements

Marshall Wynn, VDOT representative, told the board his crews completed more work orders than they opened in the last quarter and have been focusing on pothole patching, pipe replacement, ditching, sign repair and debris removal. Wynn announced his retirement, saying his last day on the clock will be June 24 after 48 years of service.

Wynn also reported a bridge replacement on Elmont Road (Route 626) at Stony Creek/Pentecostal Camp that will begin April 21 and likely close the road for roughly three to four months while the structure is replaced. He said traffic will be diverted via Gumtree Church/Centre (the available alternate route noted in the presentation).

Project updates from county public works

Joe Bidenas, traffic engineer for the Department of Public Works, presented a slate of projects: the Route 360 corridor expansion is complete from I‑295 eastbound approaches, shoulder conversions on Route 301 between Atlee and Atlee Station Road are moving toward contract once railroad agreements and permits are secured, and trail and turn‑lane work is progressing under separate schedules.

Sidewalk at Route 301 and the logical‑termini debate

The most contentious discussion concerned planned sidewalk work on Route 301/54. Bidenas said a scoping estimate presented in October had covered a portion of sidewalk but VDOT's "logical termini" requirement — that sidewalks have rational start and end points that connect to existing pedestrian networks — means the county cannot simply end the new sidewalk at the gas station without adding additional segment(s) to create a connecting path.

Bidenas told the board that, after accounting for additional right‑of‑way, construction costs and a 30% contingency, extending the sidewalk to meet termini requirements would raise the estimate to approximately $400,000. "Accounting for the additional right of way and construction costs, plus a 30% contingency, we're estimating the total cost of approximately $400,000 to extend the sidewalk to the gas station," Bidenas said.

Several supervisors questioned whether the county could reinterpret logical termini, extend the sidewalk farther north to the roundabout or keep the previously approved shorter segment. Supervisor Dibble said she found the expenditure "a huge waste of taxpayer money" and asked to move the issue back to the transportation committee. Supervisor Floyd, Supervisor Hudson and others also opposed the immediate outlay and supported further committee review. Chairman Herzberg and others said the question would be returned to the roads committee for a fuller review.

Other projects and next steps

Bidenas reviewed additional items: right‑of‑way activity for Lewistown‑Ashcake roundabout work, right‑of‑way offers and negotiations for Pole Green Road widening, and preliminary design held for Atlee Station Road widening phases; public hearings were scheduled for several roundabout projects (including an April 8 presentation and a May 7 public hearing for Sliding Hill Peaks roundabout). For the Atlee Road/Mecahnicsville Elementary turn lanes, county staff said design was paused pending the board's budget decision about a replacement school.

Ending

The board asked staff to send the Route 301 sidewalk concept back to the transportation committee for additional review of termini alternatives and cost tradeoffs. VDOT representatives thanked supervisors and noted the agency will continue routine paving, patching and infrastructure work across the county.