Under Construction: City of Waynesboro - Southern Corridor

The Waynesboro Southern Corridor is a 1.6-mile two-lane road with a shared use path within the city limits of Waynesboro. It is positioned south of Interstate 64 between exit 94 at Rosser Avenue (Route 340) and exit 96 at South Delphine Avenue (Route 624). It will create a direct, multi-modal connection between Rosser Avenue and South Delphine Avenue.

The new corridor extends Shenandoah Village Drive east, connecting to Lyndhurst Road across from North Oak Lane. The corridor then follows the existing North Oak Lane to the South River, continues on a new roadway location through Nature’s Crossing Technology Center (Exit 96 Industrial Park), and ends at an intersection with South Delphine Avenue.

The location and design of the Waynesboro Southern Corridor brings regional potential benefits. As a route paralleling I-64, the Southern Corridor can improve traffic flow at exits 94 and 96. Access from the new roadway provides prospective development for multiple industrial parcels in southern Waynesboro, including the city-owned Nature’s Crossing Technology Center. Existing industrial, office and retail businesses including the Waynesboro Town Center will immediately benefit from direct access to Lyndhurst Road.

This project was selected for funding under the SMART SCALE process for prioritizing transportation projects. Click here for more information on the prioritization process as outlined by the Virginia General Assembly.

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Waynesboro Southern Corridor Q & A

Why is the Waynesboro Southern Corridor being built in this location?

Numerous businesses and industries rely on Shenandoah Village Drive as their primary access to Rosser Avenue (Route 340) and I-64 exit 94. South Delphine Avenue, a key gateway for eastern and southern Waynesboro, is home to several trucking terminals and other business and industries. The Southern Corridor will help improve traffic flow in these areas.

This corridor will also be the primary access road for Nature’s Crossing Technology Center, a city-owned industrial park along South Delphine Avenue. The city and the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAW MPO) both identified the Southern Corridor as a vital regional road improvement.

This project is funded by SMART SCALE. What does that mean, and how did it come about?

The SMART SCALE process helps Virginia meet critical transportation needs using limited tax dollars. It evaluates potential projects based on key factors such as how they improve safety, reduce congestion, increase accessibility, contribute to economic development, promote efficient land use, and affect the environment. The anticipated benefits are calculated, and the projects are scored and ranked.

The city of Waynesboro in 2015 applied for SMART SCALE funding for the Southern Corridor. The project was selected for funding in 2016.

What is VDOT’s role in this project?

The Virginia Department of Transportation is administering the project for the city of Waynesboro. VDOT location and design engineers, along with consultant engineers, developed detailed plans for the project.

During this process, VDOT partnered with Waynesboro to ensure that the plans met the city’s needs and adhered to the original SMART SCALE application. The project team held a public hearing in 2018, secured environmental permits, and coordinated with Norfolk Southern Railway to secure a needed rail crossing near the eastern end of the project. VDOT construction engineers work closely with contractors to provide oversight and quality assurance.

The Southern Corridor was proposed more than a decade ago. Why has it taken so long, and has the project changed over the years?

The concept of a new corridor in southern Waynesboro was part of the city’s Comprehensive Plan Land Use Guide in 2008. The guide was further developed with assistance from the Waynesboro Planning Commission, a citizen’s advisory committee, and a series of community-input sessions. Following a 2013 public hearing, Waynesboro City Council requested that VDOT include the project in its Six-Year Improvement Plan.

Following its approval as a SMART SCALE project, the Southern Corridor has seen some design changes. The portion of the roadway that passes through Coyner Springs Park was shifted as far north as possible, along the tree line parallel to I-64, in order to minimize the amount of park property needed for construction. The roundabout initially proposed at the intersection with Lyndhurst Road was removed due to budget and safety considerations. When the project is complete, Southern Corridor drivers will have stop signs as they approach Lyndhurst Road.

What environmental steps are being taken, including protection for wetlands and water quality?

The project design minimizes impacts to wetlands and streams to the greatest extent possible. Water quality permits have been obtained from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Safety fence along the boundaries of non-permitted areas will prevent unauthorized impacts. VDOT Environmental staff will complete bi-monthly inspections to ensure compliance with environmental permits and regulations.

Wetland and stream impacts were offset by purchasing wetland and stream mitigation credits from the Shenandoah Wetland Bank and the Virginia Aquatic Resources Trust Fund (VARTF) through the Nature Conservancy of Virginia. These funds will be utilized to construct wetlands and restore streams within the same watershed as this project.

All culverts will be countersunk at least six inches to support the passage of aquatic species.

All instream work will be conducted in dry conditions and isolated from the stream and spring flow to minimize sedimentation and allow aquatic passage. This will be accomplished utilizing cofferdams, temporary diversion channels and dewatering operations. Should a discharge occur, VDOT will work closely with the Coyner Springs Water Treatment Plant and regulatory agencies to protect city water sources.

Tree and brush removal will be conducted in accordance with time-of-year restrictions for protected terrestrial species, as appropriate.

The new roadway passes through Coyner Springs Park. How will this impact the park and its users?

For the duration of the project, visitors can access Coyner Springs Park using the main entrance off Lyndhurst Road.

Most of the hiking/walking trails will be unaffected and available for use during construction. Special care should be taken when walking dogs off-leash near areas where construction is taking place. Trails that wind through the northern wooded section (accessed at the end of Shenandoah Village Drive) will not be accessible during construction.

Special events and various cross-country meets will be minimally impacted.

Once completed, the shared-use path will connect to the existing grass trail network within Coyner Springs Park.

Part of the construction takes place along North Oak Lane. How will this project affect that neighborhood?

While improvements are being made on North Oak Lane, a detour will be set up for through traffic. The detour will take traffic down Lyndhurst Road to Mount Torrey Road to South Oak Lane. Local residents will continue to have access to their properties.

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Benefits 

The Waynesboro Southern Corridor is designed to improve traffic flow at I-64 exits 94 and 96, while improving access to numerous industrial, commercial and residential properties in the southern portion of Waynesboro.