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Patrick County board approves VDOT 6-year plan, designates three rural-rustic road projects
Summary
After a joint public hearing with the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Patrick County Board of Supervisors approved the proposed secondary six‑year highway plan and adopted resolutions asking VDOT to designate Belcher Mountain, Deer Run and Mill School roads as rural‑rustic roads for hard surfacing.
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved the Virginia Department of Transportation’s proposed secondary six‑year highway plan and adopted three resolutions asking VDOT to designate local segments of Belcher Mountain Road, Deer Run Road and Mill School Road as rural‑rustic roads to be hard‑surfaced.
The actions came after a joint public hearing with VDOT at the Veterans Memorial Building in Stuart, during which residents from multiple districts urged the board to advance paving or other work on several dirt roads, including Handy Mountain Drive, Dan Valley Farm Road and Squirrel Creek Road.
The plan and resolutions matter because designation as a rural‑rustic road allows VDOT to hard‑surface certain low‑volume roads while limiting disturbance to roadside trees and ditches. A VDOT representative told the board the agency typically constructs rural‑rustic projects in sections and that such projects cost “about $300,000 a mile.”
Public commenters focused on health and safety concerns. Timothy East of the Dan River District said Handy Mountain Drive (State Road 645) “currently sits fifth on the list of roads to be paved” and described washouts, sharp curves and drop‑offs that have worsened as new homes have been built. Elizabeth Whitfield, who lives on Handy Mountain Drive, told the board “the dust is horrible” and described medical treatment she is undergoing that she said is aggravated by road dust. Lisa Tomlin, another Handy Mountain resident, said the road “has just gotten worse and worse” and becomes “down to mud” in wet weather.
Farmers and other drivers also described safety problems on other unpaved roads. Allen Mitchell, who farms on Dan Valley Farm Road, said the road sees frequent tractor‑trailer traffic and that “it is a very dangerous road” with “numerous wrecks.”
Carol Carter, speaking for residents on Belcher Mountain Road, thanked VDOT and the board and said the Belcher Mountain project “is budgeted, fully budgeted to be constructed during this fiscal year.” A VDOT representative confirmed the agency will follow up on traffic counts and funding and said the county’s low‑traffic roads (under 50 vehicles per day) are funded from a smaller “unpaved road fund,” which limits how quickly low‑volume roads can be advanced.
Board members moved and seconded separate resolutions to request VDOT concurrence for each rural‑rustic designation. Each motion passed unanimously, with Supervisors Marshall, Kendrick, Perry, Overby and Chairman Wood voting “aye.” The board also voted unanimously to approve the secondary six‑year highway plan.
Board and VDOT discussion also touched on truck restrictions. A VDOT representative said truck‑restriction procedures require public involvement and coordination with neighboring Floyd County and could take time, but the agency could install interim warning signage that says GPS routing is not advised. That official said the agency would begin reviewing requests from residents now and make recommendations to the board at a later meeting.
What’s next: VDOT staff said they will return with recommendations for additional roads to add to next year’s priority list and will follow up on traffic counts and the points raised in public comment. The board forwarded certified copies of the three resolutions to VDOT and approved the six‑year plan for the county’s secondary roads.
Votes at a glance: - Resolution requesting VDOT designate Route 609 (Belcher Mountain Road, 2.33 miles) as rural‑rustic — outcome: approved (Marshall: aye; Kendrick: aye; Perry: aye; Overby: aye; Chairman Wood: aye). - Resolution requesting VDOT designate Route 622 (Deer Run Road, 0.17 miles) as rural‑rustic — outcome: approved (Marshall: aye; Kendrick: aye; Perry: aye; Overby: aye; Chairman Wood: aye). - Resolution requesting VDOT designate Route 665 (Mill School Road, 0.2 miles) as rural‑rustic — outcome: approved (Marshall: aye; Kendrick: aye; Perry: aye; Overby: aye; Chairman Wood: aye). - Approval of Virginia Department of Transportation proposed secondary six‑year highway plan — outcome: approved (Marshall: aye; Kendrick: aye; Perry: aye; Overby: aye; Chairman Wood: aye).
Sources: Board meeting transcript; public hearing testimony; VDOT comments recorded at the meeting.
