The Southern Environmental Law Center says traffic on U.S. 29 will not reach levels predicted by the request for proposals for the Western Bypass until the year 2230. In a release sent out Wednesday, the organization cited a new traffic survey done by Smart Mobility Inc., as well as Virginia Department of Transportation traffic figures from the last 20 years.
According to the release, traffic numbers have grown by 0.5 percent in the last 20 years. At that rate, the 2036 traffic projection in the RFP will not be reached for nearly 200 years.
The bypass was inadequate to deal with 1988-1990 traffic levels, the release said. After 20 years of growth, the road would be rendered even less effective.
In the Smart Mobility report, traffic expert Norm Marshall said grade-separated interchanges and improvements to the local road network would be a more cost-effective solution to traffic congestion than the bypass.
The Western Bypass is a proposed 6.2-mile route running from Hollymead at its northern terminus to U.S. 250 at Leonard Sandridge Road at its southern terminus. The estimated $200 million road had lain dormant for years until being revived earlier this year after the state promised to fund its construction.
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