Supervisors Hope to Receive Funding for Road Projects

By Crystal Vandegrift, Staff Writer

FARMVILLE – The Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday night to begin working with VDOT in hopes of securing funding for three road projects.

As part of VDOT’s Smart Scale Project, county officials have identified the following three roadway projects:

1. US 460 /VA 626 Intersection (at Prospect): This is the main intersection at Prospect. For a number of years, VDOT has proposed “safety improvements” at this intersection. There is a significant accident history for the intersection.

US 460 /US 15 /VA 628 Intersection (at Schools): This project would include a review of the traffic movements from the U.S. 460 exit ramps and the left tum lanes into Rt. 628 (Zion Hill Road). There is a significant accident history for both of these intersections.

US 460 East Interchange: This project would propose the build-out of the U.S. 460 interchange east of Farmville.

“We looked at our intersections and other places and these three seem to be the main ones with safety issues,” said County Administrator Wade Bartlett.

VDOT’s SMART SCALE program is about picking the right transportation projects for funding and ensuring the best use of limited tax dollars.

According to VDOT transportation projects are scored based on congestion mitigation, economic development, accessibility, safety, environmental quality, land-use and transportation coordination.

Last fall, more than 130 localities submitted 321 proposed projects, totaling nearly $7 billion in funding to be scored, with $1.7 billion in available funds.