Transportation Information

Everyone living and working in Powhatan County uses the local transportation network to reach their destinations. Roadways in Powhatan County are either:

Public roads maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT); or
Private roads maintained by adjacent landowners.

Powhatan County does not maintain any roadways, but partners with VDOT to help ensure that the local transportation network is safe and remains in a state of good repair.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

VDOT maintains public roads and monitors activities that occur within the public right-of-way (which is land under and adjacent to the road that is owned by VDOT). For example, VDOT:

Repaves and repairs existing state-maintained roadways;
Picks up litter along major state-maintained roadways;
Installs traffic-related signage along state-maintained roadways (except for street name signs); and
Approves driveways and other entrances that provide access to properties along state-maintained roadways.

Statewide, VDOT is divided into different districts and residencies, which provide services to a specific area. Powhatan County is within the Richmond District and is served by the Chesterfield Residency. To contact VDOT’s Chesterfield Residency, call (804) 674-2800.

Powhatan County

Powhatan County does not maintain any roadways, but will replace missing street name signs along state-maintained roads. If a street name sign is missing and/or needs to be replaced, contact the Department of Community Development at (804) 598-5621 and provide the location of the missing sign.

With support from VDOT, Powhatan County also reviews plans for new roadways constructed as part of new residential, commercial, and industrial developments. This review helps ensure that new roadways meet standards set forth in the County Code (Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance).

Private Roads

Some properties in Powhatan County are accessed by private roads. Private roads are not maintained by VDOT or Powhatan County, but solely by the adjoining property owners. In many instances, a road maintenance agreement identifies which property owners are responsible for maintaining and repairing the roadway. These agreements are recorded at the Clerk of the Court and are privately enforced by the associated property owners (not by VDOT or Powhatan County).

Upcoming Road Projects

Click this link to view a list of VDOT projects planned or under construction in Powhatan County and the entire Richmond region.

Sometimes, VDOT and the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RRTPO) have funding available for local governments interested in improving their transportation infrastructure. These competitive funding opportunities allow Powhatan County and other local governments to submit applications requesting money to build new roads, sidewalks, trails, and other transportation infrastructure, or to improve existing roadways.

U.S. Route 60 at State Route 13/603 RCUT road project

In 2019 following a history of accidents and congestion at the intersections of Old Buckingham Road (Route 13) and Anderson Highway (Route 60) and Academy Road (Route 603) and Anderson Highway (Route 60), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) performed an Alternative Intersection Analysis to consider solutions. The plan proposed a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) on Route 60 between 13 and 604. This will include additional turn lanes, a dedicated acceleration lane and will limit some movements across the 13/60 median break. The total project cost is estimated at approximately $10M.

In 2024 the County applied for funding through the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) and received $5M in competitive regional funds towards the project. Also in 2024, the County applied through VDOT’s SMART Scale competitive statewide funding program, proposing to use $1.5M in local CVTA funds, and requesting that VDOT provide the remaining $3.6M to fully fund the project. Initial SMART Scale funding recommendations should be available in January 2025, with final funding decisions made by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) in June 2025.

To make progress while awaiting a funding decision from VDOT and the CTB, the County has contracted with Timmons Design to start developing the required construction plans. Survey work for the plans is expected to begin in early 2025.