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If Virginia Department of Transportation revenue sharing funds come through as expected this year, Culpeper will have more than enough money to construct the next phase of the Western Outer Loop Road.
The problem is that VDOT has indicated that even though the money might be there, it could be six years before the state can start actual construction.
If that's the case, Culpeper County Supervisor Tom Underwood yesterday suggested that the county consider doing all or part of the project itself.
But county planner John Egerston told the Board of Supervisors that he wasn't sure that was a good idea.
"VDOT is better-equipped to handle that project than we are," Egerston said. "I'm not convinced we could do it faster."
However, the county planner, like every member of the Board of Supervisors, didn't want to have all the project money in hand and then be forced to wait until 2016 to get the much-needed road started.
To that end, the board, at Egerston's urging, voted to send a letter to VDOT asking that the project be expedited as much as possible.
"We really want to get this project rolling," Egerston said.
The section of highway in question will link Ira Hoffman Lane with the Sperryville Pike, exiting near the VFW Building (about 1.5 miles). That will help re-route rush-hour commuter traffic around the town of Culpeper instead of through it.
A third phase (perhaps two decades away) would ultimately take traffic all the way to U.S. 15/29 South near the Culpeper Agricultural Enterprises.
Counting about $1.5 million in revenue-sharing money the town will contribute, the county now has about $8.5 million tucked away for the $10.4 million project.
The supervisors voted yesterday to seek an additional $1 million in revenue-sharing money from VDOT this year. The county has set aside the required $1 million match in this year's budget.
VDOT estimates that planning and engineering, much of which has already been done, will total $880,000. The acquisition of right-of-way will be a little less than $4 million, with actual construction costing about $6 million.
VDOT requires that a jurisdiction have 70 percent of a project's estimated cost in hand before getting started. Culpeper, which has been planning and saving for the Western Loop for almost a decade, already has more than the required amount.
With the route established and a preliminary survey already done, Culpeper officials had hoped that VDOT could begin construction within the next 18 months. However, the county was told several weeks ago that it could be 2016 before work could begin.
"I think we should consider doing it locally--especially the right-of-way," Underwood said.
In other action yesterday, supervisors voted to:
Support a resolution to designate the county's portion of the Hughes River as a state scenic river
Allow a pump-and-haul sewerage operation at the residence of Alice Johnson until mobile home permit issues are resolved
Adopt water and sewer rates that conform to those of the town. Rates will apply to new customers immediately, but not to current customers until Oct. 1
Begin a one-year early retirement program for employees whose jobs could be cut. A cost savings of 45 percent over two years would be necessary for any position before an employee could be considered for the program.
Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com
