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By KELLY HANNON
Some local officials are exploring a tentative proposal to build a State Route 3 bypass and new Virginia welcome center with private funds.
The idea is still in the early stages of discussion and it was not clear yesterday who is behind it. But it calls for a private company to rebuild the existing welcome center on southbound Interstate 95.
Starting at that spot, a private company could build a four-lane toll road bypassing Route 3. As proposed, the road would not require public funding.
Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors Chairman Hap Connors said details are "very murky," but he is interested in any project that will improve traffic flow on Route 3.
"I think it's important to my constituents, and the county, that we try to find some creative solutions, and to do that, it's going to take a local public-private endeavor," Connors said. "I just don't think there's any value in waiting for the General Assembly, or VDOT, or anybody from the outside to fix the problem."
Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer was briefed on the idea in February, said Bob Hagan, president of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and former Spotsylvania supervisor.
Connors and Hagan attended that meeting along with Linda Worrell, who was then the chamber president. Worrell left the chamber to oversee commercial development projects for The Silver Cos. several weeks ago.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has not made a commitment to allow the project to move forward. Also, no private company has been identified to fund the project.
Connors said Homer requested more information on the idea.
VDOT has not received any formal public-private proposals related to the welcome center or bypass, said Tamara Neale, VDOT spokeswoman.
VDOT and the Federal Highway Administration would have to approve the dual access point off Interstate 95, where both the welcome center and bypass would be located.
The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors and Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization have passed resolutions asking for dual access.
If a bypass is built, motorists would have more direct access to Celebrate Virginia and the U.S. National Slavery Museum planned on the development site.
The Silver Cos. owns Celebrate Virginia and has in the past proposed building a similar access road to the development. The company would be willing to contribute money to a public-private partnership if it wins state and federal approval, but it is not involved in any current proposals, company Vice President Jud Honaker said yesterday.
A suggested route for the bypass has it starting at the I-95 exit for the welcome center, running parallel to Route 3 and ending near Riverbend High School.
Hagan supports the idea. He sees it as the final step in a three-pronged effort to improve congestion on Route 3. The first two steps were building Cowan Boulevard and approving a four-lane connector road from Spotsylvania Towne Centre off Route 3 to Harrison Road.
"We're at the last window of opportunity to build an alternative to Route 3," Hagan said.
In addition to helping people arrive home faster, Hagan thinks a bypass would improve worker productivity.
"People will be free to spend more time on the job. People will be more punctual, and time that employers have to pay their employees will be spent generating revenue, not just sitting in traffic," Hagan said.
Fredericksburg Mayor Tom Tomzak said a bypass would be a big help in alleviating traffic on Route 3.
"It will also help the city by increasing access to one of our commercial centers," he said. "It's a good thing for the region."
But he also thinks getting approval from state and federal authorities will be a major challenge.
He also said he thinks the project needs to be a privately financed venture, not requiring city money.
"That's one of the reasons I like it so much," he said.
Public money has already been earmarked to rebuild the welcome center. Last year, the Virginia General Assembly set aside $20 million to improve rest areas before May 2007, when the Jamestown celebration will host some of its marquee events.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board decided to spend $17 million on three rest areas, including the one in Fredericksburg, and use the remaining $3 million for statewide upgrades.
In March, the CTB rejected the sole $10.2 million bid to demolish and rebuild the Fredericksburg facility after VDOT staff said it was substantially higher than the estimated cost. The project is being re-bid.
With the setback, it's uncertain whether work at the Fredericksburg rest area will be finished by next May.
Staff writer Emily Battle contributed to this story.
To reach KELLY HANNON:
Email: khannon@freelancestar.com
