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Rappahannock supervisors add Castle Mountain Road segments to VDOT six‑year plan after safety pleas
Summary
After a public hearing filled with safety and drainage complaints from residents, the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors voted to add two segments of Castle Mountain Road to the county's VDOT six‑year secondary road construction priority list.
Rappahannock County supervisors voted to add two segments of Castle Mountain Road to the county's VDOT six‑year secondary road construction priority list following a public hearing that drew several nearby homeowners and emergency responders.
The board opened the hearing with staff explaining that the six‑year plan lets the county direct VDOT funding toward hard‑surfacing gravel roads and that some segments can be added to the tail end of the plan even if full funding has not yet been set. Staff said approximately $684,000 was unprogrammed and could support adding segments to the list.
Residents urged action on safety and chronic maintenance problems. "The school buses won't even travel that road and haven't for several years," said Rodrik of the Stonewall Hawk District, who read a neighbor's letter describing ongoing erosion and repeated driveway culvert blockages. The written testimony cited roughly three cubic yards of material washing onto private land and described dust that aggravates respiratory problems.
Other speakers described steep grades, sharp blind curves and near‑miss collisions on nearby Sycamore Ridge and Swindler Hollow. "These are not rare or theoretical risks," said Robin Schmidt, who urged paving to improve emergency access and reduce recurring maintenance costs.
After public comment supervisors discussed the existing priority list and how advertised signage had influenced turnout. One supervisor moved to adopt the provided resolution incorporating both identified Castle Mountain Road segments into the county's construction priority list; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call.
County staff told the board that some segments already have preliminary engineering and that new additions would enter the queue and be constructed according to available capacity as the six‑year plan advances. Staff also noted that additions can be placed on the plan without immediate full funding, meaning a segment added tonight might be constructed several years out as capacity becomes available.
The board closed the hearing on secondary roads and proceeded to other agenda items. The county will coordinate next steps with VDOT and report back on engineering, estimated schedules and any required easements or drainage upgrades.
