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Pittsylvania County staff to seek Smart Scale support for three VDOT projects
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Summary
VDOT recommended three Smart Scale Round 7 submissions — a diverging-diamond interchange at the 311/58 interchange, Phase 2 of the 311 Connector expansion and a roundabout at Franklin Turnpike and Ridgecrest Drive — and staff will pursue a supporting resolution before the July 15 deadline.
Carson Ecker, a VDOT planner, told the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors at its March 17 work session that VDOT recommends three projects for the upcoming Smart Scale Round 7 pre-application: a diverging-diamond interchange (DDI) at the 311/58 interchange near Berry Hill, Phase 2 of the 311 Connector to expand the corridor to four lanes, and a single-lane roundabout at Franklin Turnpike and Ridgecrest Drive.
Ecker outlined the Smart Scale timetable and requirements, noting the pre-application period runs March 2–April 1 and the full application window is June 1–Aug. 1. He said a local resolution of support must be submitted no later than July 15. "That resolution is for you," Ecker told the board, asking staff and supervisors to identify an agreeable business-meeting date for formal action.
Ecker said the county has had success in prior Smart Scale rounds, noting five county projects have been funded totaling about $60 million. He described the Berry Hill DDI as primarily scoring on economic development because of proximity to the Berry Hill megasite. On the 311 Connector, Ecker said Phase 2 would convert the existing two-lane, undivided road into a four-lane divided highway to handle anticipated traffic if the site expands. Regarding funding, he emphasized that Smart Scale projects are state-funded and require no locality match, though local leveraging is recommended.
On the Franklin Turnpike proposal, Ecker cited the Franklin Turnpike pipeline study and crash history at the proposed roundabout location—three minor-injury and two suspected-injury crashes—to support a safety and speed-reduction rationale. "Roundabouts naturally lower speed and reduce conflict points," he said, arguing the design would improve the safety score for that location.
Board members expressed general support for advancing the three applications. The board did not take a final vote on the submissions at the work session; staff will draft a motion to place the Smart Scale resolution on the upcoming business-meeting agenda so the board can record formal support before the July 15 deadline.
Next steps: staff will prepare the local resolution of support and schedule it for the business meeting so the county can submit full Smart Scale documentation in the summer application window.
