New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 28, 2024

Cosby Mill Road in New Kent could reopen to traffic by late January

By Alan Chamberlain | November 25, 2014 9:43 pm

A VDOT project that has closed Cosby Mill Road to traffic could be completed sooner than advertised, thus alleviating headaches incurred by New Kent County motorists who now have to contend with an eight-mile detour.

Barricades went up Nov. 11 on the road, located in the county’s western end. Work is under way to replace a series of culverts that normally allow Black Creek to flow under the roadway but are subject to frequent blockages that produce flooding.

Earlier notices issued by VDOT indicated the project carried an April 2015 completion date, meaning the road could be closed to traffic until then. But during a meeting tonight (Tuesday) hosted by VDOT, Del. Chris Peace, and New Kent Board of Supervisors District 1 representative Thomas Evelyn, the more than 30 county residents in attendance at the Quinton Community Center learned the road could reopen as early as late January.

VDOT representative Marshall Winn told the crowd that the project’s contractor, Howard Brothers Construction, is anxious to complete the work well in advance of the April completion date appearing in the contract. Howard Brothers submitted the low bid of just under $300,000.

“Time is money to him, and he wants to have it done as soon as possible,” Winn said, adding that a late January or early February road reopening is feasible, but only if the weather cooperates.

Work primarily involves removing the existing culverts — three 48-inch wide corrugated metal pipes that have deteriorated badly — and installing three 54-inch pipes made of reinforced concrete.

“I don’t think this will be a cure-all for all the flooding there, but it’s going to make it better,” said Winn.

“What’s being put there is a 100-year structure; I can guarantee that,” he added.

But some residents in attendance appeared far from convinced that Cosby Mill Road’s flooding problems are nearing an end, despite assurances from Winn that VDOT crews plan to frequently monitor the site for floating logs and other debris. Beavers have caused some of the flooding, but VDOT must have a landowner’s permission to trap the large rodents or remove dams, he said.

“You better believe we’re going to keep an eye on it once we get it open,” he added.

Still, other residents charged that VDOT is not going far enough with the culvert replacement project. Elevating the roadway or building a bridge over the creek would seem more logical, they claimed.

“That would be the perfect solution,” Winn admitted, pointing to a bridge. “But it would be a terribly expensive project.”

“Pennywise and pound foolish,” one resident shot back. Another labeled VDOT’s plan “ludicrous” as well as “a waste of money” and “shortsighted.”

Residents, meanwhile, voiced dismay over delays that have plagued the project. VDOT rejected the first bids received in mid-2013. Three months later after the project was advertised a second time, the winning contractor defaulted. Work eventually commenced this past June, but that was to conduct repairs so that at county officials’ insistence, one lane could remain open to traffic. Then in August, discovery of a buried utility cable postponed the project again so that the cable could be relocated.

“We don’t know how [the cable] got overlooked,” Winn told the crowd. “We would have started this project in August and we would have been done by now.”

Residents also took VDOT to task over what they perceived as insufficient public notice concerning the work. But they praised the community meeting format as well as a handout that listed by date the work slated to take place. And all were happy to learn that the road could reopen in about two months.

County officials, meanwhile, told the crowd that steps are being taken to alleviate public safety concerns during the road closure.

Fire Chief Rick Opett said aid agreements have been worked out with neighboring Hanover and Henrico counties to help cover fire/rescue situations. Henrico fire/rescue is assisting New Kent on the southern end of Cosby Mill Road and a second water source has been located there, he said.

“But the north side presents some challenges since it’s an eight-mile additional detour,” he said.

To address the matter, Hanover fire/rescue stations at Black Creek and on Mechanicsville Turnpike are on standby. Both New Kent and Hanover units will be responding to all EMS calls on the north side of Cosby Mill Road, the chief said. Two additional water tankers are available to assist with fire calls, he added.

New Kent sheriff’s deputies are running radar near the construction area and have a “watch order” issued for the site to combat vandalism, said Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin.

“We’re trying to slow people down and alert people to the hazards along that roadway,” he said.

Already, there have been instances of motorists attempting to maneuver around barricades with at least one vehicle becoming stuck, he added.

Also, school officials have adjusted three bus routes in the area, resulting in slightly more time some students spend on board, said school superintendent David Myers. In the morning, students are being picked up around five minutes earlier that normal while the afternoon return trip home is taking 5-6 minutes longer, he said.

VDOT officials pledged to keep county officials and Del. Peace’s office up to date on the project’s progression and if future delays are encountered. Evelyn said he plans to inform constituents through updates published in the Chronicle, and he invited residents to contact him at any time.

County administrator Rodney Hathaway told residents that officials are exploring use of reverse 911 to issue updates. He said residents can also register on the county’s website to receive updates by text or e-mail.