County Planning Director Emily Ragsdale updated the Board of Supervisors this week on the Smart Scale application process. That’s what state transportation officials now use to fund major roadwork. The county has until April first to submit their proposals to Richmond.
“Once they decide that it is ready for full application, they give us the go-ahead,” Ragsdale told Supervisors. “We can fill out the full application starting in June and those have to be in by August first.”
Ragsdale says there are only two county road projects that will be ready for this round of funding. “One is the Berry Hill Interchange which will link to the 311 connector road. The West Piedmont Planning District will be submitting that application,” Ragsdale said.
The other is the Franklin Turnpike corridor from the city limits to Twin Springs Elementary School. “We’re in the public input phase on that project,” Ragsdale said. The Department of Transportation will present their recommendations this coming Monday in a 5:30 PM public meeting at the Mount Hermon Fire and Rescue headquarters.
Ragsdale says its already time to be thinking about road projects in the 2026 funding cycle. But she says the state only focuses on main roads. “Anything along 29, 58, 41, Mount Cross Road, Route 57. Those would be great projects,” Ragsdale added.
Supervisors are also considering requesting state help for intersections at Route 29 and Dry Fork Road. Also on the wish list are two improvement projects on State Route 863.