Supervisor Jerry Logan seeks alternative alignment for controversial connector road

By DAN TELVOCK

Date published: 8/30/2007

The alignment of the controversial Harrison Connector Road may change as opposition from nearby residents intensifies.

But it's going to take "friendly persuasion" because legal agreements give Cafaro Co. control of the road's location, said Spotsylvania County Supervisor Jerry Logan.

Logan and Supervisor Hap Connors met Tuesday behind closed doors with Virginia Department of Transportation District Admin- istrator D.E. Vogle. Logan said they discussed a different alignment than what Cafaro Co. has selected for the road near the Spotsylvania Towne Centre.

"It needs to be changed, definitely, from what Cafaro is proposing," Logan said.

Cafaro Co. proffered the road last year as part of its $90 million rezoning package to update and improve the mall. A special tax district, called a Community Development Authority, will pay for the estimated $29 million in road work.

Cafaro Co. originally considered three alignments, ruling out two after discussions with VDOT officials. The one the Ohio-based company selected causes the most damage to residential property, and it's closer to Waverly Village, Maple Grove and Governor's Green subdivisions. About 300 people signed a petition opposing the road.

Logan said he presented a plan to VDOT for what he called the "center alignment." This option aligns with Burgess Lane, and makes it a four-lane divided road. It crosses a dam rather than a pond, and then runs closer to Interstate 95, farther east of homes.

"It would not take any houses, and it would have very little impact on the residential communities," he said.

The question Ogle and VDOT engineers will answer is if this alignment meets state design and safety standards, Logan said.

Dale Swanson, who's led the opposition against the road, said the alignment over the dam "won't solve the problem."

"Then I am going to have car lights shining in my bedroom," Swanson said about Logan's idea. "Not only that, in the other direction I would have a bridge. The only thing it wouldn't do is take out my well. The damage would be just as bad if the road comes down Burgess Lane."

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Date published: 8/30/2007