Board approves $3.88 million six‑year secondary roads plan after VDOT presentation

The Washington County Board of Supervisors approved the Secondary Six‑Year Plan (SSYP) for fiscal years 2025–2030 on May 28, voting unanimously to authorize a total allocation of $3,879,023 and to allow county staff to sign the funding documents.

The action followed a VDOT presentation and a public hearing. A VDOT representative explained the new working‑draft SSYP format and walked supervisors through the table that shows project routes, funding year and allocations. The presenter said surface treatment depends on route function: through routes are prioritized for asphalt while low‑traffic dead‑end roads may receive prime‑and‑seal or tar‑and‑gravel.

VDOT staff told the board the draft had been revised because material and equipment costs have risen sharply; the presentation cited an FY‑25 allocation figure of $679,968 and explained that revised estimates prevented adding new mileage to the plan this year. A supervisor noted historical cost estimates of about $170,000 per mile; VDOT said current estimates are roughly $350,000 per mile.

Supervisors pressed VDOT on how projects move from plan to construction. VDOT said projects remain on the plan and are only removed when completed or by a board vote; timing for construction depends on when funding becomes available rather than the order of projects on the plan. The presenter offered to provide marked‑up copies of the SSYP so supervisors can better explain project “from/to” lengths to constituents.

VDOT gave a near‑term construction timeline: Hillandale and McCullough are scheduled to receive hard surface in the coming weeks; Hiawatha is slated next (likely prime/and seal); Reimer and Shafertown follow, with Moore Creek and Mary’s Chapel funded in later years depending on available money.

A motion to approve the FY25–30 plan and to authorize county staff to execute the corresponding allocation was made and passed by voice vote, 7–0.

The board paused further public action on VDOT items until follow‑up materials are distributed to supervisors. The county will publish the SSYP online on request and VDOT staff offered to meet individually with supervisors to clarify particular routes.