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Advisory board urges county to cancel VDOT Lake Drive project and do roads internally; requests $500,000
Summary
Shenandoah Farms advisory board recommended canceling a VDOT revenue-sharing project for Lake Drive after constructability and cost increases; county staff proposed completing the work internally at a lower estimated cost and requested board approval to reallocate funds to internal projects.
County staff and the Shenandoah Farms Sanitary District Advisory Board told supervisors they recommend canceling a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) revenue-sharing project for Lake Drive and instead complete priority road repairs and upgrades using the district’s internal resources.
Mike Berry, speaking for county public works and the advisory board, said constructability comments from VDOT and updated engineering estimates have increased projected costs substantially. He told the board the VDOT-approved budget for the Lake Drive segment is $475,000, but consultant constructability comments and required retaining walls, geotechnical work and riprap could raise the price well past $1 million. Berry said internal estimates using county forces and limited contracting work put the cost at roughly $160,000.
“As you look at the dollars in regards to the retaining walls and the additional geotech…You’re talking about more than our current VDOT approved budget,” Berry said in presenting the advisory board’s review. He added that retaining-wall estimates ranged from about $288,000 to $385,000 and additional geotechnical work could add $50,000 to $75,000.
The advisory board recommended canceling the VDOT application for Lake Drive and asked the county to reallocate roughly $500,000 in district fund balance to complete Lake Drive first, then address High Top Road, Tulip Poplar and internal repairs such as Venus Branch and Drummer Hill. Berry said much of the internal piping and preliminary work is complete and the advisory board prioritized improvements that would deliver the most benefit within the neighborhood.
Board members asked whether the county had the necessary fund balance; staff said the sanitary district fund balance is “roughly about $3,000,000” (approximate) and that finance staff would need to confirm available balances and move money as approved.
No formal vote was taken; Berry said he would bring a formal motion to the board next week asking supervisors to allow the county administrator to cancel the VDOT project and to reallocate district funds to the internal work. Supervisors indicated they would place the item on the next meeting’s agenda for consideration.
