The City of Staunton will begin restriping Churchville Avenue on Wednesday, marking a key step forward in a long-planned multimodal transportation project.
The project’s goal is to create dedicated bike lanes connecting downtown Staunton to Gypsy Hill Park and Shutterlee Mill Road.
Contractor availability requires that the work happen in phases. The June 18 striping will concentrate on the center double yellow line and intersection stop bars. The remaining bike lane markings, directional arrows, crosswalks and edge lines are scheduled to begin shortly after the July 4th celebration.
“We know the Churchville Avenue restriping has taken longer than originally anticipated, and we take full responsibility for that delay. While contractor scheduling and weather have created some challenges, we’re committed to completing this important safety project as quickly as possible. We sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience and ask drivers to continue using extra caution in that corridor,” Staunton Director of Public Works Dave Irvin said.
The project has been underway since the development of Staunton’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in 2018. Churchville Avenue was identified as a high-priority connection for its proximity to both downtown and Gypsy Hill Park, making it ideal for both recreational and commuter bicycling.
“This project reflects years of working closely with the community, across city departments, and with the Timmons Group, one of the city’s on-call engineering firms. We’ve taken the time to study traffic patterns, gather public input, and conduct a thorough engineering analysis to ensure the final project design improves safety and connectivity while minimizing disruptions to vehicular traffic,” Staunton Director of Community Development Rodney Rhodes said.
Striping will be done on Churchville Avenue from Lewis Street to Englewood Road, and on Englewood and Shutterlee Mill Road to Route 262.
The project implements a “road diet” approach with the avenue’s existing width to create dedicated bike lanes through restriping rather than costly reconstruction.
Changes include:
Removal of select center and right-turn lanes along Churchville Avenue between Englewood Drive and Albemarle Avenue
Removal of the westbound right-turn lane and eastbound left-turn lane on Churchville Avenue at the Spring Hill Road intersection
Modified lane markings at the Churchville Avenue and Donaghe Street intersection
Shared lane (sharrow) markings added to Shutterlee Mill Road and Englewood Drive
Engineering Analysis and Traffic Studies
In response to public feedback, particularly from a dedicated meeting in October 2022, city staff conducted additional traffic studies and engineering reviews, including intersection analysis, drone footage and coordination with Public Works, Engineering and the Staunton Police Department.
Findings presented to Staunton City Council in June 2023 confirmed:
Removal of the westbound right-turn lane and eastbound left-turn lane at the Spring Hill Road intersection will not significantly affect traffic flow
Existing turn lanes at some intersections do not meet modern standards and widths
Adjusting signal timing will help maintain smooth traffic movement
Part of Staunton’s Transportation Vision
The project reflects the city’s commitment to building a safer, more connected transportation network. By expanding multimodal options, the Churchville Corridor will better serve drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. The project also supports citywide goals around sustainability, accessibility and economic vitality, and complements other active transportation projects, including ongoing enhancements on West Beverley Street.
Project updates and more information about Staunton’s bicycle and pedestrian improvements are available online or call 540-332-3812.
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Rebecca Barnabi
