In this occasional series, we try to inject some facts into wild and woolly rumors which float through town and social media. Lately there has been some speculation about the future of the Midtown Connector—namely that there isn’t one.
Rumor: VDOT has determined that the Midtown Connector cannot be built within the regulations and is preventing the Town from doing so.
You may remember that the Midtown Connector is a proposed roadway to connect the Mt Crawford and Main intersection to North River Road. The goal is to provide a direct, safe crossing of Main Street in the Midtown area (the only existing connections are at Riverside, Bank, and College in the Riverside District). This should reduce traffic on Main Street and backups at the North River Road intersection.
The Midtown Connector is still in the planning stage and thus a few years off from construction. The Town is exploring a potential federal grant that could fund the connector road and other improvements in the Midtown corridor. (And no, those improvements will not include a roundabout.) We held an informational meeting last month to discuss these plans and hear your thoughts and concerns. The feedback we received was positive.
VDOT has not prevented the Town from moving forward with the Midtown Connector. That said, the Connector probably isn’t VDOT’s favorite project, because their focus is on improving north/south traffic flow. Our focus, on the other hand, is just on improving Midtown.
What about the building at 423 North Main Street?
When the Midtown Connector is built, the building at 423 North Main Street may have to be demolished to make room for the road. The building is currently owned by the Town’s Industrial Development Authority (IDA). It has been leased to interested businesses with full knowledge that it may be demolished at some time in the future. The building was first leased by Creative Arts Studio. When the owner decided to end the lease, the IDA entered into an agreement with Blue Ridge Engraving. We are excited to have Blue Ridge in town!