By Ashley McLeod, staff writer
Jan 15, 2016, 13:20
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — After a long planning process, the start date for construction on the new roundabout in Colonial Heights is creeping up.
According to Harold Dyson, project manager with the Virginia Department of Transportation, construction will begin in March, as long as everything stays on track.
The project will realign entrance and exit ramps for Interstate 95, and replace the signalized intersection with a roundabout, with the hopes of making more free-flowing traffic and decrease the number of serious accidents.
The design for the roundabout and has been finalized, and now the design-build team for the project is currently working with property owners on finalizing offers for acquisition of the land needed for the roundabout.
In order for the completion of the roundabout project, 13 different land parcels, owned by 11 citizens are in the process of being acquired to begin the project.
Property owner Lloyd Goddard owns 7.5 acres of land where the project is planned to be. Goddard’s family has owned the land for more than 100 years and is now having to sell the property for the construction of the roundabout.
His property was already cut down once when construction of the I-95 interstate began, the family lost a large chunk of their property.
According to Goddard, VDOT at first wanted to buy his whole property, but now is only asking for 5.5 acres, leaving him 2 acres of his original property. Goddard said that he is currently waiting for a counteroffer from VDOT.
The project began moving forward more quickly when the Kroger deal was finalized after a long process of waiting.
Once the land is acquired for the project, Dyson said they are hoping to break ground in March, with a completion date for the project to be in the fall of 2017.
Once construction on the roundabout begins, drivers should be wary of extra congestion in the area, also due to the Kroger project beginning in the same area.
On Jan. 27, VDOT will be holding a meeting for citizens to attend, providing more information on the project and how the construction will affect them. The meeting will be held at the Colonial Heights Courthouse from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
