Counties across the Heart of Virginia are set to see more than $44.9 million in road improvements, according to the latest Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved the plan on June 20, which allocated $18.6 billion to transportation projects, including roundabouts, bridge repairs and safety enhancements — some of which won’t begin until after 2020.

According to a press release, projects include highway, road, bridge, rail, transit, bicycle and pedestrian paths and other transportation improvements across the state.

According to an online VDOT database, Lunenburg County will see more than $2.2 million funding in road improvements for FY 2019-23. The funding will go toward curve alignment on Route 675, which will be funded for construction in FY 2024.

Charlotte County will see more than $17.8 million in road improvements during FY 2019-23.

The county will see more than $5.2 million in funding for the construction of a roundabout on U.S. Route 15 at U.S. Route 360, which will be funded for more than $4 million for construction in FY 2024, and more than $11.9 million for a bridge over Staunton River on U.S. Route 92, which will be funded more than $10 million for construction in FY 2022.

Prince Edward County will have almost $12.45 million in road improvements for fiscal years (FY) 2019-23 and approximately $1.85 million of improvements in FY 2018.

The funded improvements in the county include a SMART SCALE-funded project that will add dynamic flashers on U.S. Route 460 at Route 626, which will be funded at $216,000 for construction in FY 2018, construction of a roundabout on Route 15 at Route 692 at Kingsville, which will be funded more than $1.75 million for construction in FY 2021 following allocated funds of $708,000 in FY 2020, and bridge replacement project on Route 622 that is .003 miles east of U.S. Route 360 that will be funded almost $2.15 million for construction in FY 2019 on top of an additional $1.471 million funded previously for the project.

“That’s the program we have used successfully in the past to get some of our more dangerous intersections or sections of roads improved,” Bartlett said of SMART SCALE. “Most of those won’t start until 2021 for actual construction, so that’s important.”

He said the state plan was a way officials could get more of the county’s expensive projects completed through Smart Scale and receive infrastructure maintenance.

The Town of Farmville will be allocated more than $3 million between FY 2019-23 for a project that would add a protected left-turn lane into Tractor Supply Co. for northbound traffic and the same for Milnwood Road traffic headed south.

“I was a little disappointed they pushed the project start date back quite a bit,” Town Manager Gerald Spates said. “… We have the plans done and ready for construction.”

Right-of-way funding will begin in FY 2019, with a total of $324,000, and funding for construction will begin in FY 2020. An additional $1.230 million will be allocated in FY 2021.

According to the database, Buckingham County will see more than $12.43 million in funding for road improvements for FY 2019-23.

Improvements includes more than $7 million in funding for shoulder widening and rumble strips on Route 20, which will be funded with $6.38 million for construction in FY 2021 on top of $1.6 million of funds allocated between FY 2018-21, and U.S. Route 15, which will be funded  with $2.073 for construction in FY 2023 on top of receiving $550,000 of allocated funds for the project in FY 2019-22.

Buckingham County Administrator Rebecca Carter said the county’s top priorities will move forward as planned.

Cumberland County will see more than $6.7 million in funding for road improvements during FY 2019-23, which will include more than $3.5 million for a roundabout on Route 45 at Route 690.

The roundabout will be funded with $2.431 million for construction in FY 2024.

The county will also have more than $3 million for a bridge replacement on Route 621 over the Appomattox River, which will be funded for construction in FY 2022.

When asked about how the approved plan would benefit the county, Cumberland County Administrator and County Attorney Vivian Seay Giles offered no comment.

According to a VDOT press release, the SYIP provides funding to more than 3,600 transportation projects to improve the state’s infrastructure.
“This SYIP is the second program to include projects funded through the new funding structure provided by the governor and General Assembly in 2015, including SMART SCALE distributed high priority projects and district grant programs and state of good repair,” officials said in the release.