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Board asks VDOT study after residents report rising truck traffic on Buckhorn Quarter Road
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Summary
Following a public hearing, the board directed staff to request a VDOT traffic and safety study for Buckhorn Quarter Road after residents and a sand-pit operator described a recent increase in heavy truck traffic and safety concerns; supervisors warned closing the road could shift trucks to an undersized Pope Station crossing.
At a public hearing Sept. 23, Southampton County residents and industry representatives described increased use of Buckhorn Quarter Road by sand and logging trucks and urged the board to act to protect a narrow residential roadway.
Bruce Phillips, whose property includes the sand pit, said he has attempted to reroute inbound trucks to Pope Station Road and offered his phone number to help identify offending vehicles, but acknowledged some trucks will still use Buckhorn Quarter. He said contracts and routing changes implemented since the prior meeting have reduced but not eliminated truck traffic.
Supervisors and VDOT staff questioned whether closing Buckhorn Quarter to through truck traffic is feasible without improving the Pope Station crossing—a location where turning-radius and drainage-grate constraints make left turns for tractor‑trailers difficult. Supervisor White (who described trucking experience) and others recommended against closing Buckhorn Quarter until necessary crossing improvements are made at Pope Station Road to avoid creating a larger safety problem on Route 58.
The board approved a motion to have staff draft and bring back a resolution requesting a VDOT traffic and safety study and to consider interim signage or speed reductions. The study will evaluate signage, speed limits, turn-lane geometry and potential short-term mitigations while staff and the sand‑pit operator continue rerouting efforts.
