Virginia

[Thing 342]

At this point, just build the full freeway from VA-288 to US-360, and toll it. It's going to take 20 years to build if they phase it.
Edit: I see the plan has the entire 9 mile facility being constructed at once as two lanes, and with "high capacity at-grade intersections". That is even worse, IMO. I see a busy 2 lane road with traffic backing up at each red light, just becoming another US-360 with only one lane in each direction. The whole point of the road was to be a freeway bypass to US-360 (free flowing, 60+ mph, etc.), not become another US-360 (clogged, red lights, 45 mph, etc.)

Subject:
Approval of Powhite Parkway Extension Finance Plan
Board Action Requested:
The Board is requested to approve the Powhite Parkway Extension Finance Plan

I would like to see the finance plan -- namely the cost estimate.

Supposedly both the county and state bond issues for the original extension are nearly paid off. It could be made toll-free like the recent Coleman Bridge detolling, or it could be used to provide toll revenue for the new western extension.

I agree that it should be built to full 4-lane freeway standards.

It's in the linked presentation ... $565M. A full freeway would be well over $1B.

Given that the majority of the funding appears to be from local bonding, the project getting cut down in scope isn't very surprising.

[plain]

VDOT posted a pic of I-85 at the VA/NC border from 1974 on their Facebook page.

 https://www.facebook.com/share/19Fa8Etxuy/