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VDOT, county staff outline timeline for major Spotsylvania road projects, grant applications
Summary
VDOT and county staff briefed the board on a slate of highway and pedestrian projects, noted two Smart Scale awards at the May CTB meeting, and explained upcoming grant deadlines including revenue-sharing/TAP preapplications and SS4A submissions.
County and VDOT officials on Tuesday updated the Board of Supervisors on multiple transportation projects, grant applications and scheduling for work across Spotsylvania County, from intersection upgrades to sidewalk and rural road improvements.
County transportation staff said several local studies are underway, including a Harrison Road/Salem Church Road intersection study (examining a dual left from Salem Church southbound) and a larger Harrison Road widening study (Salem Church Road to U.S. 1). The county is also studying the Route 17 corridor (Massaponics Church to the Caroline County line) for potential widening and intersection improvements and a smaller study of the Route 1/Massaponics Church Road intersection for turn-lane needs. Staff emphasized that preliminary engineering studies are required to qualify for many state and federal construction grants.
Staff announced a community meeting on June 25 at the Chancellor Community Center from 5 to 7 p.m. to present the latest design for a local project (Chancellor Park Drive sidewalk project) and urged neighbors to attend.
VDOT area staff described the status of several construction projects: the I‑95 Exit 126 / Route 1 Southpoint Parkway intersection project is substantially complete though punch-list work and some signage/signal adjustments remain; design-build work to widen the underpass at I‑95 (to maintain six lanes under the bridges) is under way and scheduled to complete in fall 2027; a new span-wire signal at Route 2 and Glenda's Way met signal warrants and final sketches were expected imminently with crews performing drainage and ADA ramp work in June.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) at its May meeting approved two Smart Scale selections for Spotsylvania County: the Route 1 Southpoint Parkway intersection improvements (the county’s largest award that meeting) and Route 3 pipeline corridor operational improvements. Staff said schedule details for those Smart Scale projects will be released later in summer or fall.
On grants, county staff said preapplications for state revenue sharing and TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) funds were due the week of the meeting and the board would consider required public hearings on June 10 to support the submissions. The federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant had an application due June 26; the county is pursuing a regional GWC construction application for Route 217 improvements and is submitting a local application for a countywide safety action plan to broaden future SS4A eligibility beyond only a handful of roads currently covered by the GWRC plan.
Staff identified possible SS4A construction projects: trench widening work on Orange Plank Road, River Road, Brock Road and Robert E. Lee Road; Robert E. Lee Road could be constructed in 2026 if selected, the other three in 2027. Other VDOT updates included rural rustic surfacing projects, a roundabout and reconstruction work on Harrison Road with expected completion in summer 2026 for some segments, and resurfacing and cape-seal preventive maintenance across nine subdivisions in 2025.
Board members and staff also discussed the limited-access status of some Route 17 segments and how change would require Commonwealth Transportation Board and commissioner-level review; staff noted that removing limited access is a lengthy, site-specific process. VDOT and county staff said they will continue to brief the board as schedules for Smart Scale and other grant-awarded projects are published.
