Do you think VDOT should close Exit 80? A survey lets you weigh in.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is asking the public to have its say on an often congested exit off of I-95 North that serves Henrico's Lakeside community.

A “Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions “ or STARS study assessing the Bryan Park interchange – where I-95, I-64 and I-195 connect – homes in on the question if VDOT should close Exit 80 and widen other ramps.

The public is asked to give its input on these concepts and proposed changes by Friday, Aug. 8.

“The proposed concept analyzes the removal of Exit 80 to determine the level of safety and operational improvement that would be achieved on the interstate,” Virginia Department of Transportation Richmond District Senior Communications Specialist Sara Shepherd wrote in an email to the Citizen. “The main benefit from the removal of the ramp is reducing the number of weave/merge movements that will improve both safety and operations on I-95.”

The survey web page suggests that the proposed change is needed because the ramp from I-64/I-195 to I-95 North experiences heavy traffic congestion and unreliable travel times. Average speed reduces to less than 20 mph during the peak traffic hours.

The exit features a brown attraction sign directing visitors to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, located about 2.2 miles away at 1800 Lakeside Avenue. Ginter employees 500 staff and volunteers and welcomes more than 480,000 visitors a year.

A spokesperson for Ginter said the organization is also providing input about the plan but did not specify whether it was for or against closing Exit 80 and how that closure might impact the garden.

The concept proposes widening the ramp from I/64/I-195 to I-95 North to two lanes. I-95 North is three lanes under the Hermitage Road bridge at Exit 80 today, but the proposed modification would widen it to four lanes there. The interstate then would merge back from four lanes to three approximately 1,500 feet north of the bridge. 

But the survey and its concepts have provoked ire on some Lakeside neighborhood Facebook groups, because the dozens of people who commented had no idea about the proposals and view the exit as crucial to travel to their homes and to connect with family. They also expressed concerns about the effect the change would have on businesses on Lakeside Avenue.

While VDOT has publicized the survey through emails and some elected officials have promoted the survey, businesses that rely on Exit 80 that were interviewed for this article had not heard about the survey or considerations for changes.

Numerous businesses staff and customers in the strip of stores in the 5100 block of Lakeside Avenue reacted negatively to the proposal.

Antonio Padalamenti, manager at Arianna's Italian Grill Lakeside at 5107 Lakeside Avenue, said the closure of Exit 80 would be bad as it would impact the restaurant and customers' easy access to the eatery and add more time to his delivery drivers.

“They would have to go to Brook Road,” Padalamenti said. “A lot of people who live here use it. At 4 or 5 o'clock, the exit to Exit 80 is always busy. It would be worse if they shut it down. I hope it never happens.”

The Brook Road exit (Exit 81) is about a mile farther north on the interstate and would require commuters to travel through three traffic lights to access Lakeside Avenue if they took Brook Road to Dumbarton Road, four if they took Brook Road to Westbrook Avenue to Hermitage Road, or four if they took Brook Road to Hilliard Road. Each option typically would take between three and seven minutes.

Sharon Honosky, a Bellevue neighborhood resident, who was getting a pedicure at the nail salon next door, said she uses Exit 80 a few times a day. She acknowledged the congestion at peak hours but said the recently repainted exit was convenient, safe and clear.

For Dave Bodman, owner and CEO of Companion Extraordinaire Home Care Services located two doors down from Arianna's, the change in the exit design would be an inconvenience for the staff members and a hindrance for the nearly 75 employees who work in the field for the agency and come to the location for training and evaluations.

“It would be devastating,” Bodman said.

Leadership at the Westminster Caterbury retirement living development at 1600 Westbrook Avenue said they were against the VDOT Richmond - Bryan Park Interchange STARS study.

“We are opposed to eliminating the off ramp for both as it would directly impact our 1,750 residents, staff and parents in our Child Development Center who come here daily,” said Stacey Nannery, Westminster Canterbury's vice president for sales and marketing, in an email. “Widening the highway will increase vehicle speed which increases the noise pollution created by the highway.”

The study's website indicates that it is a planning-level study and that the proposed roadway modifications in the survey are not final. VDOT has not received funding for construction.

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.