The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be holding two information meetings regarding a corridor study of Route 60.

The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17, from 5-7 p.m. at the Buckingham County Administration Office, 13360 West James Anderson Highway in Buckingham.

The second meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24, from 5-7 p.m. at Powhatan Middle School at 4135 Old Buckingham Road in Powhatan.

The meetings, according to a public notice from VDOT, will begin “with a short presentation followed by an interactive discussion. This format will provide the flexibility to allow participants to meet and discuss the proposed project directly with staff members.”

Route 60 spans 103 miles total and crosses through Buckingham and Cumberland counties. An extensive study is in the works to address intersections with high accident rates and accommodate for growing population rates and new industries.

A presentation by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provided in the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors board packet cited that the Route 60 Corridor project uses a 20-year time frame to evaluate traffic in order to determine future needs.

VDOT Lynchburg District Planning Manager Rick Youngblood said in a previous Herald report that the study was requested by Cumberland County. He said District 22 State Sen. Mark Peake has requested through the General Assembly for a number of years, but the study had been tabled each time.

“Our Statewide Planning Section elected to fund the study to support the request through our statewide planning monies,” Youngblood said.

The presentation identifies several reasons for the revamped Route 60 study, which includes high accident rates at certain intersections, the Green Ridge landfill at the Cumberland and Powhatan county line, and Powhatan County growth areas.

“The study is evaluating many intersections which may or may not identify substantial needs,” Youngblood said. “If valid needs are identified, then projects will compete for funds through various funding programs. Once funds are identified for a specific project, a schedule will be developed to design and construct. Most projects which receive funds are to be completed within a six-year program once funds are applied and under our current Smart Scale program timeline, applications are to be submitted in late summer 2020 and funds awarded through the competition will not be available until 2025.”

VDOT, in the meantime, will develop a draft report, gather responses and revisions, and submit the report by a January 2020 timeframe.

Participants in the study are Buckingham County, Cumberland County, Powhatan County, Amherst County, Nelson County, Appomattox County and the Commonwealth Regional Council among other planning district commissions.

People can also submit written comments about the project by Saturday, Aug. 3, to Darrel Johnson, project manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 E. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23219. Comments can also be submitted by phone at (804) 371-8868, (800) 367-7623 for those deaf or hard of hearing, and by email at Darrel.johnson@vdot.virginia.gov. People are asked to reference “US Route 60 corridor study” in the subject line.