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."
Swanson, who lives on six acres off Burgess Lane, favors an alignment next to the interstate by New Life in Christ Church. VDOT says that alignment will affect future expansion of the interstate.
Ed Sielski, president of the Waverly Village Civic Association, said any alignment farther east of homes is better.
"I'd certainly be in favor of that middle route than the one that everybody seems to think Cafaro wants," he said.
Logan also wants the connector road to have uninterrupted access with State Route 3. Under current plans, a motorist would have to use the Spotsylvania Towne Centre's ring road to access the connector road at State Route 710. Instead, Logan said motorists would access the connector road off Bragg Road Extended.
Estimates are the connector road will take 20,000 cars a day. The 15 mph ring road is not designed to handle that traffic, Logan said.
"Under the current plans, those 20,000 cars have to travel half way around the ring road to get to Route 3," he said. "It's going to be a disaster. I just don't see it being a good traffic design."
Cafaro Co. officials have not heard any of Logan's ideas, most of which are penciled onto maps, Logan said. David DeChristofaro, vice president of engineering and development for Cafaro Co., didn't return several messages seeking comment. The proffer agreement signed last year gives Cafaro Co. control over where the road will go if it meets VDOT standards.
"If VDOT says it is viable, then we will take it to Cafaro and say, 'This is what we want you to do,'" Logan said.
Supervisor Connors said Logan's alignment should please most of the residents.
"We can't keep stalling on this," he said. "We have to work together to find some solutions. We're at a stalemate now."
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438