Board backs Smart Scale applications for two Route 29 intersections and Rockfish School Lane improvements

The Nelson County Board of Supervisors heard a VOTE presentation about long-term safety improvements at two Route 29 intersections (Ty Brook Highway and Colleen Road) and a separate turn-lane proposal at Route 151 and Rockfish School Lane, then approved a resolution to support the Smart Scale application(s).

Kelly Rowan, introduced as the VOTE Lynchber planning manager, reviewed five-year crash history (2019'2024) for the intersections and said the VOTE engineering team is proposing reduced-conflict intersections (RCIs, sometimes called J-turns) to cut conflict points and reduce serious crashes. Rowan cited modeled outcomes: a projected 63% reduction in fatal crashes and a 46% reduction in property-damage crashes at comparable sites.

Rowan and the assistant traffic engineer explained the operational trade-offs: the RCI concept changes cross-street movements so some maneuvers become U-turns, which can add travel distance for those turning across the route but reduces the number of direct conflict points. Rowan said modeled peak travel delays would rise in travel time for some drivers (an example was an additional up-to-45-second travel time in peak conditions for particular trips) but that stopped time at the entry point would be similar or slightly less.

Rowan reported community engagement results from a public meeting: about 23 attendees (21 were local residents) and mixed opinions on the Tybrook and Colleen proposals; the Rockfish School Lane turn-lane idea drew broad positive reaction at the public meeting. She said attendees raised concerns about speeding, U-turn operations, queuing, sight distance, and accommodations for farm equipment; the VOTE team said many of those concerns could be addressed in final design.

Cost and scope: Rowan said the two-RCI concept is estimated conceptually at about $19.8 million. Board members questioned why a grade adjustment (which could affect sight distance) was not included; staff said the likely reason was cost and Smart Scale scoring constraints and that changes can be made within a percentage threshold and rescored if necessary.

The board moved and seconded a resolution, R2026-47, to approve the Smart Scale application for the projects discussed; the roll-call was recorded in the transcript as affirmatives and the motion carried.

Next steps: project design would proceed only if Smart Scale funding is secured; design refinements will address community concerns about large vehicles and sight-distance issues if the project advances.