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VDOT and county update road projects, say some closures and right‑of‑way work will continue into 2026–2028
Summary
VDOT and county staff briefed supervisors on completed Fall Line Trail maintenance plans, upcoming full-depth reclamation contracts, roundabout and intersection projects, right-of-way acquisition timelines, and ongoing coordination on Route 1 business access during closures.
Philip Frazier, resident engineer with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), told the board the Fall Line Trail leg in Hanover is complete and that VDOT is preparing maintenance contracts. He described an upcoming full-depth reclamation (FDR) contract that includes McClellan, Rock Hill and Market roads and noted bids came in below the engineer's estimate. "The Fall Line Trail project is officially complete," Frazier said, and VDOT will begin work to set up mowing and maintenance contracts for the trail.
Frazier said the Route 1 project remains under active coordination with the contractor and the Town of Ashland on access and the timing of closures. "I don't have great news to give you today," he told supervisors, adding the department is still negotiating the contractor's closure schedule and discussing access-permit options with the town to help businesses.
Joe Bridal, the county traffic engineer, added county-managed improvements including wayfinding signage for the Fall Line Trail (grant-funded), proposed roundabouts (Lewistown/Ashcake, Atlee/360/Cold Harbor), turn-lane improvements on the Creighton corridor, and right-of-way acquisition phases on multiple projects. Bridal said changing a truck apron from concrete to asphalt in the Atlee/360/Cold Harbor roundabout concept could reduce construction time "from about 2 months to about 2 weeks," lessening business impacts.
Board members raised concerns about timelines and funding. Supervisor Pritchard said a business in her district was originally told access could be closed for eight months and warned that extended closures threaten small businesses. Staff and VDOT explained many projects rely on mixed funding (state revenue sharing, SMART SCALE grants, local matches) and that projects using state funds can require longer engineering and procurement timelines. VDOT and county staff said board resolutions are required for certain grant applications and that right-of-way and utility adjustments may take roughly a year on some projects.
What to expect: staff said public hearings and right-of-way phases are planned for several projects (public hearing examples noted for winter/spring and a December hearing in some project schedules) and that the transportation committee will review design-speed and funding questions at its next meeting in December.
