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Scott County board recommends VDOT rebuild Fraley Town bridge after divided public hearing
Summary
After hours of split testimony, the board voted 6–1 to recommend that VDOT rebuild a 0.17‑mile section of Route 624 (Fraley Town Road) and restore the bridge, citing VDOT funding availability and alternate‑route concerns raised by EMS and residents.
The Scott County Board of Supervisors voted to recommend that the Virginia Department of Transportation rebuild the bridge on Fraley Town Road (Route 624) after a prolonged public hearing that split neighbors and landowners.
Residents speaking at the public hearing were sharply divided. Blake Lawson, who lives directly on the road, urged the board to keep the bridge closed, saying the closure “has significantly reduced … reckless driving, accidents, or other dangerous activities that have plagued our neighborhood” and that reopening would threaten children and families who live on the roadway. Other nearby landowners and residents argued the bridge is an important local connector and said replacement would restore emergency‑access options.
Board members questioned law‑enforcement and EMS officials about incident history and response times. Sheriff Jeff Heath supplied statistics for the sheriff’s office but told supervisors he was not aware of an ongoing drug problem tied specifically to the road. County staff told the board that VDOT has approved funding to replace the bridge.
After discussion, a motion to proceed with rebuilding the bridge was made and seconded; the chair recorded that the motion carried 6 to 1. The board directed staff to recommend to VDOT that the department rebuild the 0.17‑mile section and associated bridge.
Why it matters: The vote reconciles two competing local priorities—residents’ concerns about traffic and neighborhood safety and the county and emergency responders’ interest in alternative access and connectivity. With VDOT funding approved for a replacement, the board’s recommendation advances a project that could change traffic patterns and emergency response routes for people in the Purchase Ridge, Duffield and Fraley Town areas.
What’s next: The board will forward its recommendation to VDOT and the project will proceed through VDOT’s replacement and design process; the board did not set a local funding contribution and noted VDOT’s funding status during the meeting.
Representative evidence: Residents raised safety and quality‑of‑life concerns; county staff and VDOT were cited as having approved funding for a replacement. The final vote was recorded as “Motion carries 6 to 1.”
