Water-Sewer Project Set for U.S. 60 / Line Extension Seen As Way to Help Draw Business to Corridor
By JAMIE C RUFF
A $5.3 million project to extend water and sewer lines west along a 2 1/2-mile stretch of U.S. 60 will further open up Powhatan County to economic development.
Most of U.S. 60 is four lanes as it cuts through Powhatan, and county officials have long planned for it to be the focus of much of the county’s growth.
The water line, which will run from Batterson Road to Rocky Oak Road, will tie into an existing line on Judes Ferry Road. Construction is scheduled to begin in January and be completed by the end of 2009.
“A number of property owners and developers have put things on hold waiting for the availability of utilities,” said Sherry Swinson, the county’s economic development director. “Now those people can move plans forward.”
Swinson said the water and sewer line is “another critical step in investing in the county’s health and economic future. . . . This provides us with a key marketing tool for attracting business to this corridor.”
Powhatan is currently reviewing its comprehensive plan, which serves as a blueprint for the type of growth the county would like to see and where it would like development and growth to be located. A summit is being organized so that the various groups reviewing the comprehensive plan can share information on planning for the future of U.S. 60.
Additionally, Powhatan has been working with Cumberland, Henrico and Goochland counties to develop a $190 million, 1,107-acre reservoir that would be located in Cumberland. Officials with the localities say it would provide a reliable future water supply and reduce stress on the James River during critical drought conditions.
The reservoir would hold 14.8 billion gallons of water and take care of the localities’ water needs for about 50 years, proponents have said.
But Robert R. Cosby, chairman of the Powhatan Board of Supervisors, said the cost of the project could be a problem.
“I don’t know where we’re going to get the money to be a player in this thing.”
Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 392-6605 or jruff@timesdispatch.com.
ILLUSTRATION: MAP
Originally published by Times-Dispatch Staff Writer.
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