ABINGDON, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation has sent notices to residents about its plans to acquire property for the widening of U.S. Highway 58 between here and Damascus as well as a Lee County project.
According to a news release, VDOT has plans to acquire rights of way for both projects by next year.
“It’s always difficult during the right-of-way process for some folks, and we understand and appreciate their patience,” said Michelle Earl, VDOT spokeswoman.
“We do work very hard to work with folks and make sure that they receive adequate housing and fair market value for their property, and ... we truly do put a lot of effort into accommodating folks when we unfortunately have to help them to relocate.”
According to the release, 10 families will be displaced by the Washington County project and about 90 land parcels will be acquired by the spring. The road project will stretch from just west of the Damascus town limits to property already acquired near Abingdon.
A consulting firm handling the acquisition, Pinnacle Consulting Management Group of Oklahoma City, Okla., has set up an office in the Food City shopping center on Highway 58 in Damascus.
Earl said the right-of-way acquisition will cost $6.9 million for the Highway 58 widening project, which she said is a priority that often comes up during public comment sessions.
The other project for which right of way is being acquired is the Moccasin Gap Bypass and state Route 647 widening in Lee County.
“We have those projects under way, and they are important to the region,” Earl said.
She said right of way for the project – about 75 land parcels – will cost $7.3 million. According to the release, 16 families and businesses along Route 72 and Highway 58 and two families along Route 647 will be displaced.
The right-of-way consultant for the project, T.B.E. Group of Columbia, S.C., now has an office across from the Scott County Courthouse on West Jackson Street. The firm will complete right-of-way acquisition by June 2009.
dmccown@bristolnews.com | (276) 791-0701
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