Nelson County awarded $2.5 million for Lovingston improvements

In June, the Commonwealth Transportation Board adopted a new six-year improvement program which has budgets for over 4,800 individual projects expected to take place over that time. 

One of the new projects adopted this year is a $2.5 million grant Nelson County requested through one of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s funding mechanisms. Supervisors agreed to spend up to $625,000 as a local match for a project to improve the sidewalks on Front Street in the unincorporated community of Lovingston. 

“This project includes  widening of sidewalks on the west side of Front street between Main Street and Theater Drive in order to meet accessibility standards,” reads the minutes of the March 12 meeting where Supervisors took a vote. “Curb ramps with detectable warning surfaces will be installed and curb extensions and bump-outs will be constructed at future crosswalk locations.” 

Utility poles will also be moved out of the sidewalk area to allow for unobstructed passage. 

According to a July 1 letter sent to Nelson County Administrator Candy McGarry, a project agreement between the county and VDOT needs to be signed and returned by January 1. The project must go bids for construction within four years.

The news was announced Monday by Nelson County Supervisor Jesse Rutherford.

“This has been in the making for years and could not be more excited for the county seat and our village to get the major upgrade it deserves,” Rutherford posted on the Facebook page for the Village of Lovingston. 

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