Construction of Quinton roundabout to resume by September

A project to improve a dangerous intersection in New Kent will resume by September. But even with proposed construction of the roundabout, at least one county supervisor is disappointed by the handling of the situation.

District 1 supervisor Thomas Evelyn expressed displeasure over a lack of communication with Virginia’s Department of Transportation (VDOT) during the Aug. 10 New Kent Board of Supervisors meeting. The supervisor pointed out insufficient communication attempts on the status of construction at Route 249 (New Kent Highway) and Route 612 (Tunstall/Airport Road) for a roundabout designed to make the intersection safer. The project came to a screeching halt in April, after the original contractor and VDOT engaged in a financial dispute. For five months, the area remained untouched, with Evelyn addressing the issue at several board meetings and with those who inquired about the status.

Further upsetting Evelyn was an email received from county administrator Rodney Hathaway. According to the email, approximately $165,000 would have to be transferred from a project slated for Route 155 (Courthouse Road) to the roundabout project for work to commence once a new contractor is on-board.

“I know it’s grant money, but it really upsets me that we have to take this considerable amount to transfer it to the roundabout project to kick-start the project all over again,” said a frustrated Evelyn. “As I said before, VDOT has done a very poor job in communication with this board on the status of the roundabout project.”

In other VDOT project news, a park-and-ride is scheduled to be completed by late September in the central part of the county.

Chad Baker, VDOT’s maintenance superintendent for New Kent, said lights have been installed at a location on Poindexter Road (Route 604), just a few miles from the Providence Forge/New Kent Courthouse exit (214) on Interstate 64. The park-and-ride will be fully paved and accommodate 37 vehicles upon completion.