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State to make a down payment on area road projects thanks to cash infusion from state legislature Date published: 6/22/2007
By KELLY HANNON RICHMOND--Money is flowing into Fredericksburg-area road projects in the latest state six-year budget. "This plan represents a significant improvement over the '07 plan," said Commonwealth Transportation Board member Cord Sterling of Stafford County. A few highlights: $9.9 million to plan improvements to the congested Falmouth intersection; $10 million to start preparations for the widening of U.S. 17 in Stafford; and $30.3 million for through lanes and turn lanes on State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County , eastbound and westbound. There's also $24.7 million to replace a bridge over Mattox Creek on State Route 205 in Westmoreland County, and $3.7 million to replace another bridge on Route 205 at Tide Mill Stream. "We will see some congested areas addressed sooner than they would've been in the old program," said David Ogle, administrator of the Virginia Department of Transportation's Fredericksburg District. Approved yesterday by the 17-member Commonwealth Transportation Board, the $11 billion plan shows the effects of the Virginia General Assembly's decision to fund transportation with an additional $3.1 billion. The plan also contains another $550 million in one-time money for primary, secondary and urban road projects. DIVIDING UP THE MONEYTogether, all this money will spur on several high-profile road construction projects. Nevertheless, not everything was funded. Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer acknowledged some communities will be upset that a road or bridge is not getting money this year. It can be more painful to add items than subtract, he said, something he hadn't anticipated during the previous six years of cuts. In terms of distributing new money, "I think we've forgotten how to do this," Homer said. Some projects in the Fredericksburg area got construction allocations, but others, like the U.S. 17 widening and Falmouth intersection, were given funds for engineering work and to purchase right of way. These steps are crucial to every project, but less visible to motorists. The six-year plan can change each year, when the transportation board takes an annual vote. The plan is based on projected revenue, and when those revenues change, so can the amount of available money. RALLYING SUPPORT
Date published: 6/22/2007
there is no reason the county board of sup's allow spotsy and stafford to become the way they are...we allow silver and any other builder to build build build and get no road improvements..silver will spend a million or 2 on road upgrades but what do we get turning lanes and stop lights that turn into his shopping centers...but cause back ups on main roads..its all a joke this area has changed so much in the last 10 years i remember my parents moved us here to get away from the grind of NYC no look at it
That is too bad that the state must step in to fix what we didn't do. We should make the developers pay for adequate roads, including interstate exchanges, BEFORE new homes are built. This is called PLANNING. The developers will tell you how they cannot afford to build roads; that they are bringing jobs and tax revenue and other good things to the community. But what developers do best is post profit. And we are left paying to clean up their mess. Think Massaponax, which is going to get worse.
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