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Good intentions don't pave roads
Bumpy road to improvements for Holly Drive residents
Date published: 2/3/2007
BY KELLY HANNON People who use Holly Drive in Spotsylvania have no shortage of adjectives to describe the private road. "Disgusting," says Georgette Gunger. "Trashed," said Christino Capozzi. "Roller coaster," said Sharon Downs. These residents of the Green Branch Farms subdivision in Partlow, and about 37 neighbors, were notified by the U.S. Postal Service last month that they have 30 days to improve Holly Drive or lose home mail delivery. The letter was also sent to residents on Bettina Way and Darcy Lane, which use Holly Drive as an entrance road. "It's not that we don't deliver on private roads, we will, but they have to be maintained to certain standards," said Lois Miller, spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service in Richmond. Holly Drive is fifth on Spotsylvania County's priority list of private roads to be paved through its "rural addition" program. It has been on the list since Oct. 28, 1987. Counties get very little state money to pave private roads, about 5 percent of their annual secondary road funding. In Spotsylvania, that's about $100,000 a year. Paving a road such as Holly Drive, three-fourths of a mile, could cost $350,000 or more, according to past estimates. Bringing a road up to state standards can include widening and improving drainage. Unless Spotsylvania gets a unexpected infusion of state funding, Holly Drive will likely be paved between 2015 and 2020, said Kathy Smith, Spotsylvania County spokeswoman. "They are way out," on the list, Smith said. Meanwhile, life on Holly Drive is bumpy. The Postal Service will evaluate the road in 30 days and make a final decision, Miller said. If it drops mail service, residents would have to move mailboxes to state-maintained Shepherds Road. Residents could also get post office boxes. Residents of Green Branch Farms used to take care of the road, but that has fallen away, Gunger said. She bought her home a year ago.
Date published: 2/3/2007
MORE INFO:
(posted by
GET'ERFIXED
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
HAS ANYONE TAKEN THE TIME TO GET REAL ESTAMATES ON IMPROVING THE ROAD? HOW MANY OF THE HOME OWNERS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A H.O.A? CAN PITTY FUNDS BE RAISED? WHO IS WILLING TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO GETTING INFO TO THE PEOPLE THAT CAN DO SOMETHING!
WHO is responsible
(posted by
GET'ERFIXED
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
can you hold the land owners responsible for fixing the road? ? Do their DEAD's read that they must maintain the road footage adjacent to their property?
Do It Yourself
(posted by
JohnHH3
, Sep. 25, 2007 2:41 pm)
Same problem here in Stafford County. I live on a "public road" that is dirt and gravel. Our neighborhood of sixteen homes has been asking for road assistance for over twenty-five years--no luck. We've found the best way to get it done is to do it yourself. Call the rock quarry and have them spread some gravel. Why put up with a bad road? Sorry, but asking the county for help is pointless.
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