Courthouse  Driveway Plan Reversed

By Averett Jones, Editor

CHARLOTTE COURT HOUSE – Just after awarding the contract for the new Courthouse Contract, the Charlotte Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to include the existing circular driveway in the court house project.

Following complaints from the same small vocal group who have demanded changes since the Courthouse project began and who have delayed the project and increased the cost, the board revisited the issue in their next meeting.

Citing security issues, four members of the board changed their votes and voted to close the drive between the Bank of Charlotte County and the Clerk’s Office and covering it with turf for an emergency road.  The new entrance and exit would have been created by expanding the drive between the Clerk’s Office and the Historic Courthouse into a two-way drive.      

VDOT recently reviewed the changes and determined that while the existing circular drive was grandfathered, changes would be required to meet current VDOT standards.  The proposed new commercial entrance would have to be a minimum of 355 feet from the intersection and would extend almost to the statue of the confederate soldier at an estimated cost of $500,000 according to Tim Burge of Skanska who oversees the project.

In a called meeting on November 22 at 8:30 a.m. the board voted unanimously to return to the previously approved one-way circular drive with the entrance between the historic Courthouse and the Clerk’s office and the exit between the Clerk’s office and the Bank of Charlotte County.