AASHTO Journal, 19 October 2012
Virginia Department of Transportation officials joined Governor Bob McDonnell Wednesday to announce that the state has chosen a team to finance, design, and build the highly anticipated new Route 460 in southeastern Virginia.
US 460 Mobility Partners will be seeing the 55-mile, $1.396 billion project through from the design and planning phase to financing to construction. The new stretch of Route 460 will be financed through both tolls and public funding (projected to come from VDOT and the Virginia Port Authority), though the already existing Route 460 will remain open and free as an alternative for drivers.
“The commonwealth is partnering with the private sector to achieve the most cost-effective means of delivering this project,” said VDOT Secretary Sean Connaughton in a statement. “Long-term project benefits will far outweigh the investment to build the road. When completed, the new Route 460 will bring much more than transportation improvements. It will also provide a critical link to jobs, commerce, and the military and increase safety. This is positive news not only for southeastern Virginia, but to the entire state.”
The new Route 460 has been identified as a priority project in order to address the growing congestion problems due to the development and economic growth of the southeastern portion of the state. Gov. McDonnell stated the construction of the new roadway will create 4,000 jobs during the construction phase alone, while creating around 14,000 long-term jobs once the road is completed. He also said that the new roadway is expected to have an annual economic impact of $7.3 billion by the year 2020.
Design and right of way work is scheduled to begin in 2013, while construction should begin in 2014. The entire roadway is scheduled to be completed during 2018.
VDOT and the Commonwealth Transportation Board are scheduled to hold a public information meeting next month to review project details and speak with the public to answer any questions on the project. Additional information on the Route 460 project is available at bit.ly/VArt460.