News Flash

Goochland County is embarking on comprehensive studies aimed at assessing the infrastructure and services provided in the eastern end of the county. These studies and initiatives focus on critical areas such as transportation, public utilities, public safety, and election polling places.  The community is encouraged to be on the lookout for public engagement opportunities including meetings, presentations, and surveys in the coming months.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has initiated the West Creek Area Transportation Access Study, marking the culmination of a decade-long process. This study evaluates existing land use and major thoroughfares to determine if the existing Route 288/West Creek area interchanges are sufficient. As part of this study, the community is invited to participate in a public survey provided by VDOT . The survey has now been extended through Wednesday, May 29th. This study is expected to be completed in Summer 2025. For additional information on this project, please visit VDOT's project page. 

Additionally, the Hocket Road Realignment project is moving along. VDOT will be holding a public hearing on June 11th at Dover Baptist Church. During the meeting, VDOT will present three options for the realignment.

The Ashland Road/I-64 Interchange will also be getting a transformation. The Ashland Road/I-64 Interchange Access Request is expected to be submitted to Federal Highway Administration in June. VDOT, the consultant, and Goochland are currently working on a second public outreach survey to garner public feedback on the chosen alternatives for the interchange. The public outreach effort is expected to be in the second half of May.

As part of the Ashland Road Interchange analysis, it was recommended to move and upgrade the Park and Ride lot to accommodate the new interchange design. When complete, this will double the size of the Park and Ride and provide lighting.

The Southeastern Infrastructure Study (SIS) focuses on future roadways (including Route 288, Patterson Avenue, Hockett Road, Broad Branch Drive, and River Road), Public Utilities, Fire-Rescue, and Schools with the goal of facilitating data-driven decision making on infrastructure-capacity and land use. A Community Meeting was held in March to gather input, with the final analysis anticipated by Summer 2024.

Also, Goochland County Economic Development, working in partnership with Dominion Energy, is assessing the East End's electrical capacity. This study will analyze existing infrastructure and identify potential upgrades to the electrical infrastructure/network and locations for when the new infrastructure is needed. While Dominion Energy cannot build infrastructure for ‘potential’ growth, this study can help reduce the lead time for power when a project commits to a site. This study is expected to be completed in Winter 2024/25.

During the April 2nd Board of Supervisors regular meeting, County Administrator Vic Carpenter announced a pause on West Creek Fire-Rescue Station 7.  The county aims to identify the optimal location along the east side to ensure efficient emergency response services for the community.

Election District 4, located in the northeastern area of the county, has experienced residential growth since the county adopted its new election district map after the decennial redistricting.  Precinct 402 (Centerville) now has over 4,000 registered voters. In order to decrease wait time and provide better service to voters, the General Registrar and the Electoral Board have asked the Board of Supervisors to create a new election precinct, identified as Precinct 403 (West Creek).

Proposed Precinct 403 is proposed to encompass the area of the county east of 288 generally between Broad Street Road and West Creek Parkway. The new precinct would include residents of the Avery Point Senior Living, 2000 West Creek, and the Retreat at West Creek communities.

In the interest of transparency, and in compliance with the Virginia Voting Rights Act, the County is providing residents with the opportunity to comment on the creation of the proposed Precinct 403 for a period of at least 30 days.  For additional information on the proposed Precinct 403 please visit www.goochlandva.us/precinct403.

These initiatives underscore Goochland County's commitment to sustainable growth and community development. By investing in these studies, the county is establishing a foundation for a strong infrastructure network that can effectively support the evolving demands of residents and businesses.

For more information on these studies, please visit www.goochlandva.us and follow Goochland County, VA on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter).