Regional Group Marks $10M for Grove Connector Road

By WYDaily Staff Saturday, April 23, 2011

An important step towards the improvement of traffic in the Grove area of James City County was reached Thursday when the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization committed $10 million for the Skiffes Creek Connector.

The connector will help reduce traffic on Route 60 near James River Elementary School by providing a connection to Route 143 and Interstate 64 for trucks going to James City County businesses such as AB InBev Brewery, the Wal-Mart Distribution Center and Busch Gardens.

The county Board of Supervisors' Roberts District representative, Bruce Goodson, serves the area and supports the decision.

He said one of his top priorities has been to fix the transportation issues that have long plagued Route 60, a two-lane road that passes through Grove.

"As a result of the action taken by the HRTPO, both the Skiffes Creek Connector and the Route 60 Relocation and Upgrading projects are now positioned to receive additional funds to ultimately complete both projects,” Goodson said.

The regional planning organization has included the Skiffes Creek Connector and the Route 60 Relocation & Upgrading projects in the Hampton Roads 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan for design, right of way acquisition, and completion of the National Environmental Policy Act document.

A number of things have to happen before the project would get underway.

“No improvements can be made to the corridor unless all federally mandated environmental review processes have been completed and approved by the Federal Highway Administration,” said James City County Administrator Robert Middaugh. “During the review process, we will call on the public to provide comments on the project and the proposed design.”