Another section of Virginia Capital Trail approved

Were you aware that the entire Virginia Capital Trail is scheduled to be open to the public by 2014? Did you know that the trail has been constructed in Richmond and is a key part of Richmond greenways efforts? So far, James City and Charles City counties have been the best at getting their part of the […]

July 28, 2011; 6:59 AM • by Phil Riggan

Were you aware that the entire Virginia Capital Trail is scheduled to be open to the public by 2014? Did you know that the trail has been constructed in Richmond and is a key part of Richmond greenways efforts?

So far, James City and Charles City counties have been the best at getting their part of the work done, with Henrico County being the slowest to get in gear. See this announcement from Wednesday on the developments from VDOT:

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved one Richmond District contract last week to construct the Sherwood Forest phase of the Virginia Capital Trail that will extend 12.5 miles between the Charles City County Courthouse and the western bank of the Chickahominy River.

The $8.8 million contract was awarded to Curtis Contracting Inc. of West Point.  The eight foot wide asphalt trail will be built parallel to Route 5 (John Tyler Memorial Highway). It will be located on the south side of Route 5 from the Charles City County Courthouse to Route 615 (The Glebe Road) and on the north side of Route 5 from Route 615 to the western bank of the Chickahominy River.

Approximately 17 timber bridges will be constructed to cross wetlands and other drainage areas. Curtis Contracting Inc. and their engineering consultant, PB Americas, will complete the trail design in fall 2011 and are expected to begin construction in early 2012. The project will be complete in October 2013. No traffic impacts are anticipated during construction.

Once complete, the 50-mile Virginia Capital Trail will allow pedestrians and cyclists to explore historic Virginia between Williamsburg and Richmond. The Sherwood Forest phase will connect the previously constructed Charles City Courthouse phase in Charles City County to the Jamestown Settlement in James City County—a total of 27 miles. 

VDOT is currently designing preliminary plans for the two remaining phases of the Virginia Capital Trail—Varina and New Market Heights. The Varina phase will span 9.5 miles from the Richmond City limits to Long Bridge Road in Henrico County. The New Market Heights phase will extend 10.5 miles from Long Bridge Road to Kimages Road in Charles City County. Contracts for each phase will be advertised to potential contractors in 2012.

For information about the Virginia Capital Trail, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/newcaptrail_welcome.asp. For more information on the meeting and other CTB actions, visit http://www.ctb.virginia.gov/meetings.asp

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Phil Riggan

July 28, 2011 6:59 AM 0

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