VDOT tells Nelson supervisors roundabout at Kenmore/US-151 is a funded safety project; canceling now could cost county

A Virginia Department of Transportation representative told Nelson County supervisors on Jan. 13 that the planned roundabout at the Kenmore / US-151 intersection is funded in the current six-year plan and designed specifically to improve roadway safety.

Mister Brown (VDOT) warned that "Only the Commonwealth Transportation Board can cancel a project that is fully funded," and said the county could face reimbursement obligations if it sought to cancel. Staff indicated $53,000 in costs have been expended so far, with another $75,000 possibly charged later — a combined exposure in the range of about $128,000 if the county abandons the project at this stage.

Board members pressed VDOT on safety data and alternative options. Brown replied that the intersection's primary safety problem is limited sight distance; he cited the site's crash history (11 crashes between 2020 and 2024) and said that, "Crash rates generally go down 82% when you take a multi leg intersection ... and you put a roundabout in there," to explain the safety rationale.

Supervisors asked whether withdrawing from the project would hurt future funding applications; VDOT said cancellation would be project-specific and not automatically disqualify the locality from future programs, though it acknowledged reputational and planning tradeoffs. Several supervisors requested a joint meeting with VDOT staff to review project studies and safety presentations before the board considers any withdrawal.

What happens next: staff and supervisors agreed to schedule a follow-up meeting with VDOT to review safety presentations, cost exposure and alternatives before taking policy action on the project.