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New road plan threatens battlefield

Dispute between VDOT, Federal Highway Administration and National Park Service over access to Spotsylvania Courthouse Bypass could delay the project.

By EDIE GROSS

Date published: 5/15/2005

By EDIE GROSS

A last-minute change to a major Spotsylvania County road project is being reconsidered after complaints from environmental officials and county supervisors.

The Spotsylvania Courthouse Bypass, in the works since the late 1960s, is scheduled to be under construction by late summer or early fall.

But a decision by VDOT and federal highway officials to increase access to the north end of the bypass was roundly criticized by some who feared it would damage the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield.

Though the Federal Highway Administration approved the change in March, FHA officials announced Thursday that they were reviewing the change.

"We are working with the [National] Park Service and VDOT on this decision," said Nancy Singer, spokeswoman for the Federal Highway Administration. "We want to carefully evaluate any design change. Our goal is to ensure an informed decision is made on this."

Russ Smith, superintendent of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, said he was relieved to get a phone call Thursday from Roberto Fonseca-Martinez, Virginia's division administrator with the Federal Highway Administration, indicating that the agency's decision may have been "premature."

"I feel like at least we'll have some discussion," said Smith, who said access from the bypass could bring developers to the park's edge.

"They promised what they promised [limited access] as a mitigation measure. For them to come back now and say it doesn't matter, then why did they promise it in the first place?" Smith said. "What other mitigation measure could they offer for putting a highway next to a national park?"

The highway is supposed to begin at the intersection of the existing State Route 208 (Courthouse Road) and Wild Turkey Drive, then stretch south and west, following the paths of Robert E. Lee Drive and Block House Road, before reconnecting with Route 208 at Post Oak just west of the Ta River.

The Virginia Department of Transportation originally planned to provide only limited access to the northernmost piece of the bypass, so as not to encourage development close to the battlefield.

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Date published: 5/15/2005