Clifton council approves easements and clears path to advertise Main Street duct‑bank work

The Clifton Town Council on June 3 unanimously approved a package of easements and letters needed to advertise Phase II of the Main Street Streetscape project, a step officials say will allow utility relocation work to begin later this year.

Chair Susan Yantis, speaking for the Streetscape (Special Projects) Committee, told the council the goal is to have the project authorized for advertisement by June 30. If approved by VDOT on that schedule, the town expects contractors to begin duct‑bank work in August or September, with utilities work taking roughly three to four months before roadway construction can proceed and certification of utility/right‑of‑way work is completed.

Council votes at the meeting included approval of two letters — a right‑of‑way certification and a request to authorize advertisement to the Virginia Department of Transportation — and multiple easement agreements tied to properties along Main Street. The motions passed by voice or poll were unanimous (6‑0).

Yantis said the town has negotiated responsibilities with utilities: Verizon and NOVEC are expected to provide materials for their parts of the duct bank and to be responsible for in‑kind relocation work where they are the benefiting party. She noted the complexity of estimating in‑kind relocation costs given constrained space in the town’s right of way, and said the project design anticipates utilities will relocate underground to ease future work on the road.

Councilmembers confirmed a sequence of work: the town’s contractor will construct the duct‑bank pathway (Phase I) and the utilities will then perform their relocations (Phase II). The administration’s update to the council included a timeline estimate that, depending on contractor schedules, could put roadway construction in the spring following utility certification.

The council also approved a $3,200 compensation payment for the Clifton Café easement and authorized the town to finalize easement documents for several properties, contingent on final review. Those motions were moved and seconded and approved by roll call with the full council in favor.

What happens next: town staff will submit the Plans, Specifications and Estimate package to VDOT Central Office for review and request authorization to advertise. If VDOT authorizes advertisement by the end of June, the town’s project managers said they will proceed to solicit bids; utility companies will finalize plans to place their facilities in the new duct bank and to remove deactivated aerial equipment.

The council did not set construction start dates at the meeting; Chair Yantis cautioned those depend on contractor availability and coordination with utility schedules and Norfolk Southern where the rail right‑of‑way is involved. The council asked staff to continue outreach with affected property owners and to coordinate communications for businesses and residents on timing and traffic impacts.