Construction of roundabout in New Kent halted due to contract dispute

A project to improve a dangerous intersection in New Kent has hit a major snag. And it may be a while before it can be unraveled.

Construction of a roundabout at the intersection of New Kent Highway (Route 249) and Tunstall/Airport Road (Route 612) has been idle for the last three months. Half of the $2.7 million VDOT project had occurred in April, when the contractor pulled out of the contract.

Concerns about the lack of work prompted District 1 supervisor Thomas Evelyn to question VDOT maintenance superintendent Chad Baker about the issue during the board’s June regular work meeting. Baker said he was notified of the dispute for the first time prior to the June meeting.

But Evelyn lashed out not only at the June meeting, but at Monday night’s meeting on the issue, saying he has personally been frustrated.

“I have residents calling me asking what’s going on with the intersection,” the District 1 leader said. “I’m frustrated because there has been no work there for three months.

“But the thing that gets me is that VDOT knew of the issue three months ago,” the riled up Evelyn continued. “VDOT needs to have an open line of communication with this board so that we may relay the situation to our constituents.”

One of Evelyn’s biggest issues was the 35 miles per hour speed limit posted on Route 249 to slow traffic in the construction area. The supervisor lobbied for the speed to return to the regular posted 55 miles per hour, something Baker said occurred Monday afternoon.

The construction, itself, remains at a stalemate, with Baker saying the issue is now in the hands of another entity.

“The project has defaulted due to the contractor pulling out and now it is in the bank’s hands,” he concluded, referencing funding to support the construction.