Studies

What's Being Done

VDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is conducting a three-year study to consider future improvements to Route 460 between Interstate 295 in Prince George County and the Suffolk Bypass (US 58) in Suffolk. The study examines transportation problems such as road capacity, mobility and access, and potential solutions in the study area. Through the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, the study team, using input from the public and from various agencies, will work to identify several improvement alternatives, as well as the impacts of these alternatives.



Learn more about U.S. Route 460 Corridor Improvements

Project Updates

On November 17, 2005 the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) passed a resolution that selected CBA 1 as the preferred alignment.

The project team is currently documenting the impacts of the selected alignment in a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). After the FEIS is completed and authorized by the FHWA, a Record of Decision (ROD) will be published by the FHWA.

The DEIS was completed and submitted for public review on June 10, 2005. Location Public Hearings were held on July 19 and July 21 for the public to review the environmental impacts and the proposed conceptual design of each alternative.

Related Links
Read the DEIS Online

Study Map and Schedule

Visit the Route 460 Location Study Website for more details

Read about a related study - Richmond/Hampton Roads High Speed Passenger Rail Study

Why is this road being built?

During the study process, the purpose and need for the project is developed and documented as part of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The purpose and need identifies the transportation problems the study needs to address and serves as a basis for developing and screening solutions to those problems. It is updated throughout the study. Key elements include:

1. Address roadway deficiencies: Route 460 has design and operational deficiencies that cause safety and mobility problems.
2. Improve safety: Crash rates for Route 460 are higher than other similar roadways in Virginia.
3. Accommodate increasing freight shipments: Truck percentages for Route 460 are significantly higher than national averages for similar rural roads. Truck traffic is forecasted to grow due to expansions at the Port of Virginia.
4. Reduce travel delay: Future traffic volumes will result in increased travel delays on Route 460 due to capacity limitations at traffic signals and the lack of access control.
5. Provide adequate hurricane evacuation capability: Route 460 is a designated hurricane evacuation route for Hampton Roads communities.
6. Assure strategic military importance: Route 460 is part of the Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) designated by the Department of Defense and the Federal Highway Administration.
7. Meet legislative mandate: Federal legislation, as well as the Virginia Transportation Act of 2000, identified the roadway as a high priority corridor for improvement.
8. Meet local economic development plans: Localities within the Route 460 study area have identified the need for transportation improvements to meet their economic development objectives.

Contacts

Mr. Chris Collins