Board directs staff on six‑year secondary roads plan: Emmett Road removed, public hearing set for May 12

Madison County supervisors spent substantial time on March 22 reviewing the draft six‑year secondary roads plan. County staff explained VDOT’s screening criteria (traffic counts, lane width, functional needs) and how VDOT, shop staff and citizen requests contribute to the prioritized list.

Chairman Yao said, after hearing from residents, he wants the remaining portion of Emmett Road removed from the plan; the board signaled agreement and asked staff to reallocate those tele‑fee funds to accelerate other prioritized projects or come back with recommendations. Staff noted PEC (a local conservation group) submitted comments urging the board to consider preserving the character of unpaved roads when deciding to pave.

Board members asked staff to gather additional information on Turner Drive (local maintenance vs. full‑paving options) and a particularly problematic section of Novum Church Road that repeatedly washes out. Staff recommended scheduling the required public hearing on the six‑year plan for the May 12 business meeting to allow April budget work to proceed and still meet the state statute deadline for adoption before July 1.

Staff said VDOT generally does not re-count traffic for roads that already qualified, but will revisit counts if new development increases traffic. The board directed staff to return with recommended uses for the funds freed by removing Emmett Road and with more detail on Turner Drive and Novum Church Road.