Route 460 Location Study

H O M ES T U D Y O V E R V I E WC O N C E P T U A L A L T E R N A T I V E SC A N D I D A T E B U I L D A L T E R N A T I V E SM A P A N D S C H E D U L EL O C A T I O N S T U D Y P R O C E S SP U B L I C M E E T I N G ST O L L S T U D YS T U D Y T E A MC O N T A C T T H E T E A MN E W S L E T T E R SF A Q s

Alternatives Under Consideration

Public Input
Technical Analysis and Screening
Map of Updated Candidate Build Alternatives
Five Possible Solutions
Related links

The EIS process requires that all reasonable alternatives be considered, including a “no-build” possibility. The Study Team has identified the best possible locations for a new roadway—referred to as Candidate Build Alternatives (CBAs). Descriptions of these CBAs along with a map are provided on this page.

Public Input

After two Citizen Information Meetings were held in February 2004, more than 230 comment forms were submitted to the Rt. 460 Study Team. Comments addressed reactions to the preliminary conceptual alternatives presented at the February meetings in Windsor and Prince George. The comments included alignment preferences, identification of sensitive environmental resources, and discussion of the impacts of particular alternatives. These comments provided the team with information to perform a more detailed technical analysis and screening of the alternatives.

Technical Analysis and Screening

Following the February Citizen Information meetings, the study team continued technical analysis and performed alternative screening. The analysis enabled the team to modify the conceptual alternatives to minimize environmental impacts and maximize benefits. This technical work included the following tasks:

  • Completed travel demand forecasts that project the amount of future traffic each conceptual alternative would generate
     
  • Identified potential displacements (property takings and relocations) for each alternative using 2002 aerial photography of the study area and real estate records
     
  • Divided each conceptual alternative into segments to identify specific impacts such as displacements, wetlands, agricultural districts, and public facilities
     
  • Determined the portions of each alternative that could be shifted to reduce the wetlands impacts
     
  • Combined different alternatives into hybrid alternatives, to minimize the total environmental impacts. Each hybrid alternative attempted to improve upon the conceptual alternatives by reducing impacts to one or more screening factors.

Five Possible Alternatives Under Consideration

With input from interested citizens and federal agency partners along with the results of detailed analyses, the following five alternatives will be presented at the public hearings and are described in greater detail in the DEIS. Your comments on these alternatives are very important to the study. View the map to see the Candidate Build Alternatives (CBA) described below.

map   Click map for larger version (PDF, 1.1 MB)

  • CBA 1 follows an alignment that is south of existing Route 460. It is a four-lane (2 lanes per direction) divided highway. Access to the towns and major secondary roads would be provided at nine interchange locations: Route 58 Bypass in Suffolk; Route 258 in Windsor; Route 616 south of Ivor; Route 620 south of Wakefield; Route 40 south of Waverly; Route 602 west of Waverly; Route 625 south of Disputanta; Route 156 in Prince George County and at Interstate 295.

    See new map for a minor shift in the alignment, and the Jan. 18, 2007, Commonwealth Transportation Board resolution approving it.

    A study was conducted in conjunction with the Location Study to evaluate issues relating to implementing tolls on CBAs 1 and 3. Results of the feasibility study will be presented at the public hearings.

  • CBA 2 largely follows the alignment of existing Route 460, but includes northern bypasses around Windsor, Zuni, Ivor, Wakefield, Waverly, and Disputanta. Also, the alternative through Suffolk is located on new alignment (the same new alignment as CBAs 1 and 3. Along each bypass there are access points to existing Route 460 and interchanges with the secondary roads that lead to the towns: Route 258 in Windsor, Route 620 northeast of Ivor, Route 31 north of Wakefield, Route 40 north of Waverly, and Route 625 north of Disputanta. CBA 2 would be a four-lane highway; it is not proposed as a limited access facility.

  • CBA 3 shares the same alignment as CBAs 1 and 2 in Suffolk. However, west of Suffolk the roadway is located entirely on the north side of existing Route 460. Nine interchanges would provide access to the four-lane divided highway: at Route 58 Bypass in Suffolk, existing Route 460 near the Suffolk / Isle of Wight County border, Route 258 in Windsor, Route 620 northeast of Ivor, Route 31 north of Wakefield, Route 40 north of Waverly, and Route 625 north of Disputanta, Route 156 in Prince George County, and Interstate 295.

  • The Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Alternative (not depicted on the map) involves basic upgrades to the current Route 460. Such upgrades would include adding turn lanes at critical intersections, adding advance warning lights, and installing rumble strips. Adding additional travel lanes, grade-separated interchanges, or drainage systems are not included in this alternative.

  • The No-Build Alternative

    • Suffolk - Arterial signal system - Kings Fork Rd to west
      corporate limits
    • Sussex - Dual left turn lanes on VA 604
      Prince George - Left turn lane signal modification on Prince George Drive (VA 156)
    • Prince George - Left turn lane signal modification on Quaker Rd (VA 629)

Related links

Page last modified: Oct. 14, 2012