They figured, however, that the respite would be short-lived because the list of roads still needing attention was long. After years of bellyaching by drivers and local officials alike, the state took notice and doubled the local highway construction budget. In fact, state authorities boasted that the Virginia Transportation Act was the biggest transportation budget in the commonwealth's history. Gov. Jim Gilmore and state transportation officials promised to jump-start stalled road projects. He's right, VDOT officials said.
Many projects are still in the conceptual stage.
Road construction has been underfunded for so many years that much of the infusion of funds is being used to play catch-up. Projects that had been delayed have been put back on track. For example, the widening and installation of HOV lanes on I-64 in Chesapeake was moved up four years. New projects in the plan must be started from scratch, which means they're years from actual construction. VDOT has an extensive process to plan, design and engineer road projects before the first shovel digs into the ground.