Meeting kicks off call for public input into potential changes for Route 5 in Varina

At a public meeting Aug. 7 at the Varina Library, more than 100 people came out to hear what changes county and state officials may be planning for Route 5/New Osborne Turnpike corridor - and to provide their own ideas.

The event was billed as a workshop-style gathering at which county officials and construction contractors from the Kimley-Horn company helped residents give input about areas of concern along that state road, which is also known as New Market Road and is a major artery through Varina.

Sudha Mudgade, a capital projects manager with the Henrico County department of Public Works Transportation Development Division, explained to the crowd that the county, along with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the City of Richmond, already had collected traffic data about the corridor.

After the brief presentation, the organizers encouraged the people at the gathering to physically mark problem issues on sections of the roadway on 13 poster-sized detailed maps propped on easels around the room and write their issues on corresponding cards.

Area residents including Princess Turner said the speed limit on Route 5 branching onto Osborne Turnpike by the 7 Eleven should be dropped. She was particularly worried about the safety of cyclists on the Capital Trail, which crosses Route 5.

“I am concerned that the speed limit is not safe,” Turner said after placing a sticker on a map in the area.  

Steve Winowiski said the amount of traffic on the northern end of Route 5 from Rocketts Landing in the morning was a point of concern and cited a fatality involving a cyclist caused by a drunk driver.   

Standing by an easel map, Stephen Schleck also expressed his concern about the propensity for traffic circles.

“I don’t think traffic circles work very well,” said Schleck. “They would make it more dangerous for the bike trail. More turn lanes are a better solution.”

Schleck also said he was concerned that widening the roads for the proposed changes would take away other people’s property along the route.   

VDOT conducted the Route 5 Safety and Operations Study at the request of Henrico County in 2024.  The study evaluated transportation needs in the segment of Route 5 between Varina Road and Four Mile Run Parkway and prepared recommendations to improve safety and reduce congestion in the area.

VDOT has completed traffic counts, traffic capacity analysis, safety analysis, development of alternatives, a draft study report, public involvement, refinement of alternatives and a final study report.

VDOT suggests these potential alternatives:
• widening Wilson Road at Varina Road;
• widening or placing a roundabout at Mill Road;
• widening turn lanes and adding a traffic signal or creating a roundabout at Strath Road.

Henrico County is accepting input through the online survey on the roadway through Aug. 19. Questions inquire about how often respondents travel on the route, for what purpose, and what concerns they would like to share. There is also a map input feature for respondents to mark trouble spots.

Key staffers for the project said the timeline for the project would bring together that input with analyzed data. Henrico County and VDOT then intend to put forth a traffic improvement plan ahead of a second public meeting, at which more public input will be provided.

A finalized study document then would be assembled, and Henrico and VDOT would hold a third public information meeting to publicize the plan.

Terrell Hughes, director of the Henrico County Department of Public Works, said he expected the changes to the roadways being studied to be completed in 2026.

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.