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Resident urges Caroline County and VDOT to fix guardrail, fully pave Secretariat Road
Summary
A Caroline County resident told the Board of Supervisors that visibility issues at Route 30 and Secretariat Road were addressed but said a torn guardrail and the longstanding need for full repaving remain urgent safety concerns.
Joseph James, a Reedy Church District voter, told the Caroline County Board of Supervisors during the public comment period that sightlines at the Route 30 and Secretariat Road intersection had been cleared but safety gaps remain.
"After coming here and some other people calling... we have a platoon of people in the community calling, expressing our concerns with VDOT and the people here in the county responsible for the roadways," James said, thanking officials for recent visibility work but adding, "That guardrail is still torn down" and warning that vehicles leaving the roadway could strike trees beyond the guardrail.
James said the guardrail was ripped out when a car struck it at about 30 to 40 miles per hour and said he is concerned about large vehicles, motorcycles and passenger cars meeting near the crest of the hill. He also asked county staff and VDOT to repave Secretariat Road, which he said "probably has not been paved in maybe 50 years," and urged the county to replace bucket-patch repairs with a full asphalt rebuild for residents who live along the road.
Chairwoman Long responded to the comment by asking James to call the county the next day so staff could follow up with VDOT and provide an update. No formal action was recorded during the meeting on the guardrail or repaving request; James’ remarks were recorded as public comment only.
The comment underscores a recurring local issue: residents raising safety and maintenance concerns at specific rural intersections and asking the county to coordinate with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for repairs and paving.
The county did not announce a schedule for guardrail replacement or a paving contract during the meeting. Residents seeking follow-up were directed to county staff for status updates.
