VDOT postpones two major Culpeper road projects

The Commonwealth Transportation Board announced Thursday that it has proposed reducing funds from two highly anticipated Culpeper primary road projects in its 2009-14 Six-Year Improvement Program, citing bleak transportation revenues as the reason. The decision would reduce local transportation funding by $41 million.

So far, VDOT officials postponed the $24 million interchange planned for the intersection of Route 666 and U.S. 29 near Eastern View High School and the final phase of the $16.6 million four-lane widening project along Route 3 east of Stevensburg toward Lignum.

“It’s shocking,“ said Culpeper County Planning Director John Egertson, after learning about the recent cuts Thursday afternoon. “It’s devastating and it doesn’t look good for us at this point.“

However, the $1.5 million district-wide Route 29 corridor plan that runs through Culpeper linking Interstate 66 to North Carolina is still on track. Secondary road projects are still under construction, according to Lou Hatter, public affairs manager for VDOT’s Culpeper district.

Earlier this year, transportation officials listed an estimated $1.3 billion in proposed reductions to statewide highway projects and adjustments to public transit, rail, bicycle and pedestrian projects in response to a $2.6 billion reduction in overall state and federal transportation revenue.

The CTB will hold one of its five public hearings in Culpeper next month, giving area residents a chance to review the modifications.

The public forum is scheduled for Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. inside VDOT’s Culpeper District auditorium at 1601 Orange Road. Residents are allowed to voice their concerns about primary roads and interstate highways during three-minute intervals throughout the hearings.

“We’ll be in attendance at (next month’s) meeting to try and fight for funding,“ Egertson added. “We’ll do what we can to try and get (the interchange) funded.“

The CTB allocates funding for specific highway projects, public transportation, seaports and airports. VDOT updates its Six-Year Improvement Program annually.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .

Want to go?
What: VDOT public hearing
Where: Culpeper District auditorium, 1601 Orange Roard
When: Jan. 6 at 6 p.m.
Culpeper District projects
Funded projects
U.S. 29 district-wide U.S. 29 long range corridor plan, $1.5 million
Project cuts
Route 3 four-lane widening east of Stevensburg toward Lignum, $16.6 million
U.S. 29/Route 666 interchange near Eastern View High School, $23.9
Source: VDOT