The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing Tuesday at Kate Collins Middle School in Waynesboro on the plans for lighting on Interstate 64 at exit 99 at the summit of Afton Mountain.
The hearing is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Those attending the hearing can speak with project team members, view project plans and provide comments. All comments received at the public hearing and during the 10-day comment period after the hearing will be reviewed by the project team and included in the public hearing record.
The proposed project involves installing lighting at the top of Afton Mountain around the exit 99 interchange to improve safety and visibility for motorists. Thirty-five pole-mounted lighting fixtures will be installed within the limits of the interchange along I-64 and U.S. 250. The lighting will improve visibility where the interchange ramps connect with U.S. 250.
A visual impact study conducted in coordination with the National Park Service concluded that the planned lighting would have minimal impacts on most of the adjacent natural areas, including Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The lighting project is one of two safety improvement projects coming to Afton Mountain. The other improvement that is now being done is the installation of a congestion warning system on I-64. The lighting project is expected to start in the spring of 2025 and be completed by fall 2025.
Source: www.dailyprogress.com