Before construction can begin on any road improvement project, detailed design plans must be developed through VDOT's design process. For design to begin, the Commonwealth Transportation Board must first allocate funding in the Six-Year Plan. Before the board approves design plans, public information meetings and hearings are held to give people an opportunity to provide comments. After the board approves design plans, then right of way activities can begin, followed by construction. Each step is dependent on appropriate funding in the Six-Year Plan for implementation.
Public involvement is important to the board as it considers allocating statewide funding.
If you cannot attend the hearings, you can still comment by mail for ten days following your local hearing. Safety issues are also an important factor the board must consider. The board also will consider areas where future development and traffic volumes will make construction much more difficult if plans are delayed. Construction sequencing must also be considered. During actual construction, efforts will be made to minimize traffic disruptions and maintain two-lane traffic in each direction.