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Orange County board hears VDOT public‑meeting findings, asks for alternatives on Route 522/20 and Route 3/20
Summary
County staff told the board that VDOT received public feedback on two road projects, roughly 100 people attended the meeting, and VDOT will provide two design alternatives and cost estimates for the board to consider by February; the public comment deadline is Dec. 5.
Orange County officials reviewed public feedback on two Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) projects affecting Route 522/20 and Route 3/20, with staff reporting safety and business‑access concerns and asking VDOT for alternative designs.
Michelle Meiksel, a county development‑services presenter, told the board that VDOT’s public meeting near Locust Grove Elementary ‘‘had approximately 100 attendees’’ and that ‘‘a total 11 comments’’ were submitted on the Route 522 and 20 roundabout concept. She said VDOT will evaluate two alternate concepts for Village Road — either aligning it with Eberona Road in a single full‑access intersection with turn lanes or relocating Village Road to connect to Route 522 — then provide the county with estimates for review.
Meiksel also reported that the Route 3 and Route 20 project drew 22 comments and that ‘‘most of the discussion . . . was related to the u‑turn not being considered safe.’’ She said VDOT will examine safety concerns at that location and deliver a transcript of public comments to the county. Meiksel reminded residents that the public‑comment period closes on Dec. 5 and that concepts and supporting documents are posted on the county’s Development Services website.
A board member who attended the meetings summarized public sentiment as roughly ‘‘two to one’’ against the roundabout in the initial comments and raised several practical concerns, including business access and lane configuration. The same board member cited local counts, saying, ‘‘I believe we got 28,000 vehicles a day going eastbound . . . and then 14,000 coming westbound, every day,’’ and warned that a nearby bridge at the county line is not scheduled for expansion, which may complicate lane changes.
Board members requested the two alternatives from VDOT, with estimates, and said they will review those options with VDOT and county staff before deciding whether to pursue one design. Meiksel said the county expects to receive VDOT’s alternative concepts and associated estimates quickly and will bring the matter back to the board for evaluation, with the county relying on the submitted public comments as part of that review.
Next steps: Residents who want their remarks included in the official record should submit comments by Dec. 5; VDOT will supply the county with the alternatives and cost estimates for consideration, and the board will decide whether to advance a preferred design after staff and VDOT briefings.
