August infrastructure update: Henrico County tackles major road, pedestrian and utility projects
Henrico County’s Department of Public Works and Department of Public Utilities staffers are on the road implementing dozens of infrastructure projects this August in an attempt to modernize utilities, ease traffic congestion and enhance safety across every magisterial district.
Crews are actively tackling road detours, bridge repairs and major trunk sewer installations, while school-zone pedestrian safety upgrades and regional multi-use trail expansions are moving into key phases of planning and construction.
Targeted safety enhancements are designed to protect students navigating areas near local schools:
• Beulah Road shared-use path next to Seven Pines Elementary School;
• Maybeury Drive turn lane and sidewalk improvements near Maybeury Elementary School;
• pedestrian hybrid beacons on Three Chopt Road serving Douglas S. Freeman High School and Tuckahoe Middle School.
Multi-district signals and regional studies are being coordinated on a countywide scale, and neighborhood traffic calming initiatives are lowering speeds across residential streets, with speed bump installations planned countywide, including on Huron Avenue in the Brookland District and Ziontown Road in the Tuckahoe District.
Pedestrian safety projects across Henrico County (to expand sidewalks, trails and bridge access) include:
• sidewalk expansions on North Parham Road and Eastridge Road.
• implementation of the Libbie Avenue road diet.
• construction of the Magellan Parkway pedestrian bridge over I-95.
• development of key segments of the Fall Line Trail.
Repairs and replacements are underway or scheduled to ensure structural integrity on bridges along heavy traffic corridors on Greenwood Road, Parham Road and Lakeside Avenue.
Modern utility installations designed to build capacity through major sewer and water extensions include efforts at the Fruehauf Road relief sewer, East Highland Park sewer (rehabilitation), Upham Brook trunk sewer, Tuckahoe Creek trunk sewer and water and sewer extensions on Old Washington Highway, Evergreen/Taylor Roads, and Hanover Road/Early Street.
District-by-district road projects
Brookland District road projects:
• Bethlehem Road pedestrian and traffic improvements (construction paused due to utility conflicts; full closure in place with detours via Dickens Road, West Broad Street, and Libbie Avenue).
• Greenwood Road Bridge repair (completion expected this fall).
• Old Washington Highway sewer and water extension (road closed between Mill and Mountain Roads).
• Parham Road bridge repair.
• the Libbie Avenue Road Diet and Fruehauf Road Relief Sewer are two Brookland District projects out for bids.
Fairfield District road projects:
• East Highland Park sewer rehabilitation – Phase 1.
• Magellan Parkway pedestrian bridge over I-95.
• Magellan Parkway and St. Charles Road Extensions (Magellan Parkway closed between Level Green Lane and Park Central Drive).
• Upham Brook Trunk Sewer Installation.
• Virginia Center Commons Sewer & Water Main Replacement.
• in Fairfield, speed bumps are being installed on nine streets – Pennsylvania Avenue, Altman Road, St. Charles Road, Fayette Avenue, Springdale Road, Neale Street, Watts Lane, Hartman Street and Apollo Road.
• East Highland Park Sewer Rehabilitation – Phase 2 (starts this fall).
• Fall Line Trail – Villa Park Phase (starts this summer).
• Fenwick Drainage Improvements (starts this summer).
• Lakeside Avenue Bridge Replacement (starts this summer).
• Richmond-Henrico Turnpike Improvements (starts this fall).
• Fall Line Trail – Brook & Hilliard Road Phase (out for bids);
• Fall Line Trail – Lakeside Community Trail Phases 1, 2, and 3 (out for bids);
• Hilliard Road safety and mobility improvements (out for bids).
Three Chopt District road projects:
• Liesfeld Farm Drive extension;
• Sadler Road improvements (closed to through traffic between Sadler Green Place and Willow Gate Drive);
• Tuckahoe Creek trunk sewer installation Phase II;
• West Ridge sewer and water improvements;
• Westin Estates sewer improvements;
• roundabout construction at Wyndham Park Drive and Dominion Club Drive.
Tuckahoe District road projects:
• countywide Pedestrian Signals – Phase 2.
• Maybeury Drive turn lane at Patterson Avenue (road closed between Westmore Drive and Patterson Avenue; expected to reopen before the school year);
• North Parham Road sidewalk;
• Ridgecrest water main replacement;
• Eastridge Road Sidewalk project (will start in the fall);
• as a part of a countywide pedestrian signal installation effort, hybrid beacons are being installed by schools in the Tuckahoe District on Three Chopt Road near Douglas S. Freeman High School and Tuckahoe Middle School.
Varina District road projects:
• Beulah Road pedestrian improvements;
• Colonial Court area water rehabilitation;
• Evergreen Road and Taylor Road sewer and water improvements;
• Hanover Road and Early Street sewer and water main extension – Phase II;
• Thirteen streets in Varina will get speed bumps – Merle Street, National Street, Montpelier Street, Brandonview Avenue, AP Hill Avenue, North Ivy Street, East Jerald Street, Dale Street, East Read Street, Southbury Avenue, Wilton Road, Macallan Parkway, Windsor Road.
Upcoming public forums and surveys:
• Aug. 10 Public Meeting: Lakeside Avenue bike and pedestrian improvements meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
• Aug. 27 Energy Fair: The Sustainability Division hosting an event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Western Government Center Administration Building courtyard (4301 East Parham Road).
• Regional Recycling Survey: Active through Aug. 31, conducted by PlanRVA and Central Virginia Waste Management Authority.
Dina Weinstein is the Citizen’s community vitality reporter and a Report for America corps member, covering housing, health and transportation. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.
