Planning commission backs letter supporting RAISE planning grant for US 19/460 traffic work

The Tazewell County Planning Commission voted Dec. 12 to authorize County Attorney Chase Collins to write a letter of support for a RAISE planning grant aimed at traffic improvements along U.S. 19/460.

Kenneth Dunford, the county's Director of County Engineering, described the planning grant and the corridors under study. He said the county has worked with grant writers and that the county has obtained funding through programs such as DCR and Safe Streets for All. "This planning grant involves traffic improvements along 19/460," Dunford said, and he outlined three corridors of focus: the entrance area at Hardee's and Walmart (Corridor 1), the section from Hardee's in Pounding Mill to the Bluefield town limits with short exit and acceleration lanes (Corridor 2), and the Crab Orchard Road area (Corridor 3). Dunford said Claypool Hill has been designated a high-risk area and that business owners opposed closing entrances in prior VDOT studies; the Board previously returned money to VDOT over those proposals. Dunford also cautioned that the project is lengthy and "it might be until the 2030s before any alterations might be made to the roadway."

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. After the public hearing closed, the commission approved a motion (moved by Vice-Chairman Robert "Bob" Moss, seconded by Member Hayden Lyons) authorizing Collins to prepare a letter of support; the vote was 5-0 with two members absent. The letter will express the commission's support for pursuing the planning grant; further design or construction would depend on subsequent funding, design decisions and approvals.

The record does not include the text of the proposed letter; Collins was authorized only to draft and submit the support letter on behalf of the commission.