Patrick County board adopts VDOT secondary six‑year plan and approves bridge easements

The Patrick County Board of Supervisors voted April 13 to adopt the Virginia Department of Transportation’s secondary six‑year highway plan for fiscal year 2026–2027 through 2031–2032 and approved two easements needed for a Route 8 bridge replacement project.

VDOT staff presented the draft plan and the construction budget to the board during a joint public hearing. No members of the public signed up to speak on the plan; a supervisor asked staff to review average daily traffic counts on Corn(s) Trail in the Peter’s Creek district as a follow‑up item.

After the presentation the board moved to adopt the six‑year plan "as presented." The motion passed on a recorded voice vote: Mr. Marshall (yes), Mr. Kendrick (aye), Mr. Wood (aye) and Chair (aye).

Separately, VDOT requested the board sign temporary and permanent easements to advance the Route 8 bridge replacement. The board approved the two parcels discussed (referred to in the packet as parcel three and parcel four) after board members asked for clarification on timing and detour plans for the bridge work. VDOT told the board construction is expected to begin in late summer of next year and that the contractor intends to stage the work to avoid a five‑mile full detour, likely replacing halves of the bridge sequentially.

The board’s approvals allow VDOT to proceed with right‑of‑way acquisition and project scheduling. No fiscal appropriations beyond what was presented were adopted at the hearing; the plan and easements move the county and VDOT into the next stage of project delivery.