VDOT to hold public hearing for Port Republic Road-Route 340 project

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a design public hearing concerning the intersection of Route 340 (Eastside Highway) and Route 253 (Port Republic Road) in Rockingham County.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the South River Elementary School, 2101 Elm Avenue, Grottoes.

In the event of inclement winter weather on March 26 the meeting will be held on March 28 at the same location and same time.  Please refer to VDOT’s Staunton District Projects and Studies page for meeting notification updates at www.VirginiaDOT.org.

Citizens can come in during the meeting hours and discuss the project on a one-on-one basis with VDOT officials and designers. Written comments can be submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date to Mr. Chris Colson, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation, 811 Commerce Road, Staunton, VA  24401-9029. Oral comments can be recorded at the meeting with the assistance of a court reporter.

The purpose of the project is to improve the safety at the intersection of Route 340 (Eastside Highway) and Route 253 (Port Republic Road) in Rockingham County by adding north and southbound left-turn lanes.

On Route 340 the project will provide two 12-foot thru-lanes with a 12-foot left-turn lane onto Route 253.  The road will also have 10-foot shoulders and roadside ditches.  Paved shoulders will be constructed to accommodate future bicycle and/or pedestrian needs.

Widening will take place on the eastern side of Route 340.  Widening to one side of the road will allow minimal traffic impacts during construction.

No detours will be required for the project.  Existing access to all property in the area will be maintained during construction, and new entrances will be reconstructed.

The current average daily traffic is 2,870 vehicles per day, and this is anticipated to increase to 3,680 vehicles per day by the design year of 2037.

The estimate for the project is $2,200,000 with $250,000 for preliminary engineering, $1,050,000 for right-of-way and utilities, and $900,000 for construction utilizing Highway Safety Improvement Program funds.  Construction is scheduled for 2016.