VDOT’s Brian Gentry recently gave the York County Board of Supervisors an update covering maintenance work orders, delayed bridge repairs, SMART SCALE widening projects, paving schedules, and pending traffic studies. At their work session on October 6, Supervisors praised VDOT crew responsiveness, though they pressed for clearer Victory Boulevard project details and questioned Route 134 signal timing, among other issues raised.
The presentation by Gentry, Williamsburg VDOT Residency Administrator, covered the second- and third-quarter of 2026 update. He noted 925 call-center service requests with the work spread across 44 equipment operators and managers across three area headquarters when fully staffed. Projects discussed included delayed bridge work on Route 134 over Route 17 and Route 143 over I-64, a Victory Boulevard shared use path, and the Route 17 widening, set for advertisement Nov. 10. Supervisors raised Route 134 backups at Yorktown Road, and a pedestrian beacon at Tabb Middle School is expected around November.
Crews completed all 37 reported guardrail repairs and are test-running snow equipment ahead of winter, while Route 134 paving is due to finish by Nov. 20 and secondary residential paving is complete. The I-64 Gap widening has a fixed completion date of November 2027. Traffic engineering’s queue includes a general safety study on Showalter Road pending since last November, a possible Route 199 speed limit cut from 55 to 45 mph near Water Country, and a bike lane review on Big Bethel Road.
Recently completed work
Bowstring Drive ditch cleaning, Queens Lake: Crews finished ditch cleaning at the northern end of the county.
Victory Boulevard tree trimming: Tree trimming was completed on Victory Boulevard while the district contract was working in the area.
Upcoming maintenance
Snow equipment dry runs: Crews fit and test plows and spreaders; new operators learn routes.
Ditching at Barham Boulevard and Heritage Hamlet: Seaford crews ditch these areas once environmental review is complete.
Countywide ditch and pipe cleaning: Fall focus on clearing outfalls and cross pipes.
VDOT-administered projects
Guardrail repairs: On-call crews completed all 37 reported guardrail hits.
Route 143 over I-64 bridge repair: Steel is back-ordered; completion date is being pushed back.
Route 134 over Route 17 bridge deck: Lead abatement and unsuitable materials caused multiple delays; completion date pushed back.
Route 134 and Yorktown Road signal timing: Backups on Route 134; VDOT said it can ask its traffic engineering group to look at it.
CMAQ-funded projects
Victory Boulevard shared use path: Under-mile path undergoing utility field inspections; further geotechnical evaluation needed; still moving forward.
SMART SCALE projects
Route 17 widening, Wolf Trap Road to Goodwin Neck Road: Advertisement Nov. 10; utility relocations underway.
SMART SCALE 18, Route 171 widening: Project is complete and will drop off the report.
SMART SCALE 20, Route 171 capacity enhancements: Route 134 to Route 600 in right-of-way phase.
SMART SCALE 22, Airport Road, Mooretown Road and Richmond Road area: Preliminary engineering; RK&K is going to submit a traffic memo on no U-turn traffic at Old Town.
Other projects
North Bowman to Yorktown Road fire station path: Under-tenth-mile segment of another project that ties into the Victory Boulevard shared use path; funding source not stated.
I-64 Gap widening, final segment: Hampton Roads side stopped, waiting on the Richmond side.
State of good repair
Route 143 over Queens Creek bridge replacement: Scoping phase; closure versus alternating traffic still being decided.
Paving
PM5E Route 134 primary paving: Shoulder stone nearly done; completion due by Nov. 20.
PM5R secondary residential paving: Complete; punch list and mailbox replacements remain.
Next year’s paving schedule: Built by January; pavement division reviews April through June.
Traffic engineering
Disability, speed and stop signs: Disability signs need medical documentation; new speed and stop signs installed.
Showalter Road general safety study: Open-ended review requested by residents; queued since last November.
Route 199 speed study: Possible step-down from 55 to 45 mph near Water Country.
Lakeshead Drive markings: Stop line and pavement markings under consideration.
Route 134 and Yorktown Road intersection: Safety review in the queue.
Route 134 median crossover pavement markings: Listed in the traffic engineering queue for a private road; similar markings already placed at a couple of Route 134 locations.
Alexander Lee Parkway speed study: Speed study underway.
Hampton Highway crossover devices: Additional traffic control crossover devices listed in the traffic engineering queue.
Yorktown Road speed study, Big Bethel Road to Calthrop Neck Road: Requested by a speaker addressed as Tom.
Dare Road stop review (transcribed as always stop review): Periodic check that the stop still serves its purpose.
Fort Eustis Boulevard step-down speed study: Covers the approach to Route 17 near apartments.
Old Williamsburg Road signage: Additional speed limit signs under review.
Oriana Road and Meadowview Drive: Intersection safety review in the queue.
Big Bethel Road bike lane review: Checks whether warrants are met; construction would be a separate project.
Dorothy Drive and Rollins Way: Four-way stop review.
Questions and follow-ups
Dead bamboo near the museum: Beyond VDOT’s cut right-of-way, the park service must clear it.
Route 17 restriping: Pavement marking reviews run year-round; VDOT said it can push up the request to restripe Route 17 from Yorktown to the Newport News line.
Pavement joint north of Martin Farm Road: Already completed as a paving operation.
Glen Laurel Way paving: Data collected; priority depends on ratings, traffic counts, lane-mile targets, funding.
Yorktown Road beacon at Tabb Middle School: Equipment on order; installation expected around November; push-button.
Route 17 signal at sports complex: Runs left-turn phases with no cars waiting; VDOT will investigate.
Martin Farm Road and Grafton Drive stop signs: Status unclear; staff to check whether completed.
Victory Boulevard overall: Years of work ahead, including a one-lane stretch; board wants specifics.
Yorktown Road turn lane near Route 17: Planned turn lane appears lost among other projects.
Pocahontas Trail crossing near new food pantry: Beacon request on hold until the county builds a proper stop.
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