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Board adds Forest Green Road to secondary six‑year plan, removes Addie's Point; residents pledge local funds
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted to add roughly 0.2 miles of Forest Green Road to its VDOT secondary six‑year plan and remove Addie's Point after resident testimony and VDOT staff briefings; supervisors and VDOT staff outlined funding sources and next steps for right‑of‑way and drainage work.
The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors voted during its May meeting to add about two‑tenths of a mile of Forest Green Road to the county’s VDOT secondary six‑year plan (FY2026–2031) and to remove Addie's Point Road from the plan.
Why it matters: Adding Forest Green to the plan commits the county to pursuing VDOT funding and project delivery steps that can lead to hard‑surfacing a short but heavily used gravel segment. Removing Addie's Point reflects land‑owner preferences and eliminates a previously planned project the county no longer wants to advance.
What the board approved: After several residents described maintenance challenges and emergency‑response concerns on the Forest Green segment, VDOT’s county representative summarized funding available in the plan: annual telefees (about $24,451 per year) and a small district grant for unpaved roads. The board voted to add Forest Green to the plan and to take Addie’s Point off the list; motions were made, seconded and carried by voice vote.
Resident testimony and public safety argument: Multiple Forest Green residents and a Fairfields volunteer lieutenant said the roadway served 20–30 houses and was difficult for emergency vehicles. One resident cited county tax payments of roughly $795,000 over years of ownership as context for asking county assistance. "It is imperative to fix, maintain, and preserve the first 1,200 feet of the roadway," said a Fire Department lieutenant, arguing the condition slows first responders; other residents described years of self‑maintenance.
Funding and deliverability: VDOT staff said the existing telefees and countywide engineering funds (combined with the FY26 telefee allocation that becomes available July 1) should be sufficient to begin work and make an estimate; VDOT recommended verifying drainage easements and whether property owners will dedicate needed easements rather than requiring a county‑funded right‑of‑way acquisition. VDOT noted typical rural‑rustic construction estimates in the county range from roughly $80–$120 per linear foot depending on conditions; residents and the board discussed estimates of $100–$120 per foot for the 1,200‑foot segment.
Board direction: VDOT said it will prepare a project estimate and a draft resolution adding Forest Green (and showing the removal of Addie's Point) for the board’s next meeting. Supervisors also discussed that if the estimate exceeds current available funds, the project would be deferred until additional funds accrue.
Process notes: VDOT explained the difference between the rural‑rustic program (which hard‑surfaces existing state‑maintained gravel roads) and a rural addition (which brings a new road into the state system and is delivered with surfacing included). Forest Green is already state‑maintained and thus eligible for rural‑rustic consideration; VDOT asked the community to secure any necessary drainage easements to speed delivery.
Next steps: VDOT will prepare an engineering estimate and proposed funding breakdown; the county will accept the resolution to amend the six‑year plan at the next meeting. Residents said they plan to contribute modest local funds (historically around $4,300 annually in community maintenance funds) to the work if the county moves forward.
