The state has approved changes to a Henry County road project.
Virginia's transportation board has approved moving the proposed Interstate 73 closer to the city of Martinsville.
Leaders there had been pushing for the change in hopes that the interstate will increase economic opportunities.
The road will also provide better access to Martinsville Speedway.
Here is the full news release:
COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD VOTES TO PURSUE HENRY COUNTY ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT FOR INTERSTATE 73 IN HENRY COUNTY
SALEM — On Wednesday, June 15, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) passed a resolution to pursue shifting the alignment of Interstate 73 in Henry County from the approved location corridor to the Henry County Alternative. The alignment extends approximately 21 miles from Route 890/108 to Route 87 and would move Interstate 73 to the west, closer to the City of Martinsville.
In November 2007, the Henry County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution asking the CTB and VDOT to “… re-open their consideration of a route for Interstate 73, and to incorporate the proposed Patriot Centre connector road and better access from the Martinsville Speedway and the Martinsville Industrial Park as part of that re-evaluation.”
On Dec. 17, 2009 the CTB passed a resolution directing VDOT to work with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to conduct the required public involvement and conduct the necessary studies to consider shifting the location of the alignment of I-73 in Henry County. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) in spring 2011. The EA describes the potential impacts to determine if the changes will result in significant environmental impacts that were not evaluated in the Environmental Impact Statement.
FHWA will have final approval authority over the shift and the EA.
The CTB’s resolution dated June 15, 2011 can be viewed online at: http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/resources/Salem/I-73_CTB_HCA_Resolution_June_2011.pdf
The EA can be viewed online on the I-73 project page at: http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/I73/i73overview.asp.
