Highland Supervisors Question VDOT Plans For Bridge Replacement On Route 600

Monterey, Va – At its Tuesday evening meeting, the Highland County Board of Supervisors took action to contact the Virginia Department of Transportation regarding plans to replace a bridge on route 600. Supervisor Sullenberger describes VDOT’s plan and how it will impact residents on that road.

“The problem obviously is that project is going to start relatively soon and they’re not going to provide a detour” says Sullenberger. “In terms of density, Route 600 north is as populated as any secondary road in the county.”

There are residents on route 600 who will be significantly affected if the road is blocked for an extended period. In addition, the question of access for fire and rescue personnel and school buses must also be addressed. County Administrator Roberta Lambert will contact VDOT to ask them to address these issues at the February meeting.

Supervisor Rexrode noted that the VDOT project for the route 612 Bullpasture River crossing has now received permits and work should begin this spring.

Supervisor David Blanchard brought up the problem Monterey is currently having with graffiti. He says he wants to talk to VDOT about their plans for replacing county signs that have been vandalized by graffiti in several locations. He emphasized that the county cannot become complacent on this graffiti issue or it will be an even bigger problem in the future.

Supervisor Sullenberger reported to the Board that he has recently had discussions with staff in the Virginia Department of Education regarding the challenges facing the Highland County schools.

“There are some people in Richmond who are very interested in talking about options and alternatives and all sorts of things with us” he says.

In other business Carolyn Pohowsky requested that the Board write a letter of support for the new Artisan’s Trail proposal being developed by Allegheny Highlands tourism groups with support from the Virginia Tourism Corporation. A motion to provide a letter was approved by the Supervisors.

The next meeting of the Highland County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for Tuesday, February 1 at 7:30 in the Modular Conference Center in Monterey.