(November 2009) Construction on Phase I and Phase I-A portions of the U. S. Route 220 water line extension, which began in the summer of 2008 is complete. These phases consisted of the installation of approximately 26,800 linear feet of 12-inch water line with appurtenances in Roanoke County and extended the water line from the Clearbrook community to the Roanoke County/Franklin County boundary line. Fire hydrants were installed approximately every 1000 feet along the water line.
With Phase I of the project complete, general contractor Aaron J. Conner is currently working between the Franklin County line and the Town of Boones Mill on Phase II of the project. Consisting of an additional 42,000 lineal feet of 12-inch water line, this water line project will provide reliable public water and fire protection for residents and businesses from the Roanoke County/Franklin County line to the Wirtz-Platea Plaza area of Franklin County.
In November, the members of the Western Virignia Water Authority officially welcomed Franklin County as a member of the Authority.
For additional information on this project, contact the Western Virginia Water Authority at 853-5700 or info@westernvawater.org
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(March 2009) Construction on Phase I and Phase I-A portions of the U. S. Route 220 water line extension, which began in the summer of 2008, consists of the installation of approximately 26,800 linear feet of 12-inch water line with appurtenances in Roanoke County. This portion of the project will extend the water line from the Clearbrook community to the Roanoke County/Franklin County boundary line.
Aaron J. Conner General Contractor, the utility line contractor for these phases of the project, has completed approximately 70 percent of the Phase I and Phase I-A project. Progress to date includes 21,030 linear feet of 12-inch ductile iron water line, 226 linear feet of 6-inch and 8-inch water line and 18 fire hydrant assemblies. Fire hydrants are being installed approximately every 1000 feet along the water line.
Phase II of the project consists of an additional 42,000 lineal feet of 12-inch water line, which will extend from the Roanoke County/Franklin County line to the Wirtz-Plateau Plaza area of Franklin County. After receiving public input, the Franklin County Board of Supervisors approved the U. S. Route 220 Corridor Study. Construction bids for this portion of the project are scheduled to be advertised in early March.
This water line project will provide reliable public water and fire protection for residents and businesses in the U.S. Route 220 corridor.
For additional information on this project, contact the Western Virginia Water Authority at 853-5700 or info@westernvawater.org.
(December 2008) - Construction on Phase I of the U. S. Route 220 water line extension, which began in the summer of 2008, consists of the installation of approximately 26,800 lineal feet of 12-inch water line with appurtenances. This portion of the project will extend the water line from the Clearbrook community to the Roanoke County/Franklin County boundary line.
Aaron J. Conner General Contractor, the utility line contractor for Phase I of the U. S. Route 220 water line extension project, has completed approximately 54 percent of the Phase I project, which includes 10,600 linear feet of 12-inch ductile iron water line, 176 linear feet of 6-inch water line, 12 gate valves and nine fire hydrant assemblies. A. J. Conner presently has two crews working on the project between Red Hill Baptist Church and the Franklin County Line.
Phase II of the project consists of an additional 42,000 lineal feet of 12-inch water line, which will extend from the Roanoke County/Franklin County line to the Wirtz-Plateau Plaza area of Franklin County. Construction plans, as prepared by Earth Environmental Consultants, for Phase II of the project are approximately 90 percent complete and bidding of the project is waiting for Franklin County to approve its U S. Route 220 corridor study. Franklin County staff has prepared a draft of the U. S. Route 220 Corridor Study and is in the public participation phase of the review process.
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(October 2008) - Construction on Phase I of the U. S. Route 220 water line extension project began in the summer of 2008. This phase of the project, which extends from the Clearbrook community to the Roanoke County/Franklin County boundary line consists of the installation of approximately 26,800 lineal feet of 12-inch water line with appurtenances.
Aaron J. Conner General Contractor, the utility line contractor for Phase I of the U. S. Route 220 water line extension project, has completed approximately 33 percent of the Phase I project, which includes 8,300 lineal feet of 12-inch ductile iron water line, 176 lineal feet of 6-inch water line, 10 gate valves and 8 fire hydrant assemblies.
Letters have been sent to those property owners in Roanoke County whose property fronts on U. S. Route 220 to determine the level of interest in connecting to the water distribution system at this time.
Phase II of the project consists of an additional 42,000 lineal feet of 12-inch water line, which will extend from the Roanoke County/Franklin County line to the Wirtz-Plateau Plaza area of Franklin County. Construction plans, as prepared by Earth Environmental Consultants, for Phase II of the project are approximately 90 percent complete and bidding of the project is waiting for Franklin County to approve its U. S. Route 220 corridor study. Franklin County staff has prepared a draft of the U.S. Route 220 Corridor Study and is in the public participation phase of the review process. Completion of an approved corridor study is a requirement of the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG).
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Western Virginia Water Authority and the Counties of Franklin and Roanoke Break Ground for the U.S. 220 Water Line Project
The Counties of Franklin and Roanoke and the Western Virginia Water Authority broke ground June 11, 2008 on a joint water line project in the U.S. Route 220 corridor. This new 12-inch water line will provide a regional service that will enhance the quality of life for customers as well as the regional community.
This project is an excellent example of how working together can benefit a region. As a result of a partnership between Roanoke and Franklin counties and the Western Virginia Water Authority, residents and businesses along the U.S. Route 220 corridor will have access to the same high quality of public water and fire protection that other residents in the Authority’s service area currently enjoy. The economic development potential of the land in this transportation corridor will also be optimized.
The partnership calls for the Authority to design, manage construction and maintain the new waterline. Debt service on the bonds issued by the Authority for this project will be repaid by Franklin and Roanoke counties. These costs will be primarily recouped from availability fees paid for by developers.
The Authority’s water lines currently conclude near the Sun Crest Heights Subdivision just south of Kingery’s store in the Clearbrook area of Roanoke County. This project involves extending this line approximately 65,000 feet to the Wirtz Plateau area in Franklin County, placing the lines in the existing VDOT right-of-way along Route 220 South. The construction will be completed in multiple phases with the entire project taking 18-24 months to complete. The initial phase of construction, expected to begin the end of June, 2008, has been awarded to A.J. Conner General Contractor, Inc. of Roanoke through a competitive bid process.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. at Red Hill Baptist Church, located at 6251 Franklin Road.
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Select a question to see the answer below.
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The Western Virginia Water Authority, Franklin and Roanoke Counties are entering into an agreement which should be finalized in next few months involving the extension of water lines through Roanoke County into Franklin County. How did this project evolve?
Franklin County approached the Western Virginia Water Authority and Roanoke County a little more than a year ago about the possibility of providing water to Franklin County. Franklin County was impressed with the level of service the Water Authority provided its customers in the City of Roanoke and the County of Roanoke and wanted to provide the same reliable and dependable water service to its residents and businesses.
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Where will the water lines associated with this project be located?
The project calls for running the lines along Route 220 just below Kingery’s store in Clearbrook to Wirtz Plateau in Franklin County. The Virginia Department of Transportation is supportive of this project. The Department has agreed to let the Western Virginia Water Authority place the lines in existing VDOT right-of-way.
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How much will the water line project cost and how long will it take to construct?
After much research, the Water Authority has calculated the cost of the project at approximately $5.5 million. This cost, which is not expected to vary, will be shared by Franklin and Roanoke Counties. Franklin County’s share of the project is $3.2 million. Roanoke County will contribute $2.3 million toward the project. The project is expected to take 18 months to two years to complete.
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How does the Western Virginia Water Authority view the project and what role will the Authority play?
The Water Authority will design, construct and maintain the water line and views the project as an opportunity to provide a regional service that will enhance the quality of life for customers as well as the regional community. The Authority will also issue the bonds for the project. The debt service on the bonds will be repaid by Franklin and Roanoke Counties.
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Will water rates increase for existing Water Authority customers in order to cover the cost of the project?
No. Because this project will be funded by Franklin County and the County of Roanoke, the rate equalization plan established for customers of the Water Authority will not be impacted by the construction of this water line. Customers in Franklin County that are served by this water line will pay the prevailing Franklin County rates while Roanoke County residents will continue to pay the previously established Authority rates.
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Will this project jeopardize the water supply, especially during times of drought, for existing Water Authority customers?
No. The 2003 Long Range Water Supply Study, prepared by the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission, shows the Western Virginia Water Authority having a surplus water supply until at least the year 2040. This project will allow the Water Authority to utilize the surplus water from multiple water sources and treatment facilities and maximize efficiencies. By
following the recommendations of the 2003 study, the residents in our regional community will experience the same safe and reliable long-term water supply enjoyed by our current customers.
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Questions & Answers Specific to Franklin County:
How is this project beneficial to Franklin County residents and businesses?
Franklin County identified the Route 220 Corridor as an area that needed water service in its most recent Comprehensive Plan update. As such, this major transportation corridor can provide economic development opportunities while also providing a safe and reliable water source, plus fire protection to the businesses and residents currently living in the corridor. Additionally, there have been a number of concerns expressed about the unreliable quality and insufficient quantity of safe and reliable water in the corridor that can be addressed by this project. The Western Virginia Water Authority has a proven track record of managing both construction and day to day oversight of such systems and offers an excellent opportunity for a genuine partnership.
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How will Franklin County pay for its part of the project?
Debt service for Franklin County’s share of the project has been built into the County’s Capital Budget for infrastructure development and will be offset over time by increased tax revenues and connection fees.
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Will Franklin County be able to ensure that mechanisms are in place to control growth along the Route 220 corridor?
Franklin County will undergo a corridor study while the construction is ongoing to determine the appropriate tools to manage growth in the corridor.
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Will Franklin County become a formal member of the Western Virginia Water Authority?
When the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County first began analyzing the possibility of creating an authority, the other valley jurisdictions were not yet ready to investigate a regional water and wastewater authority. However, the Water Authority is designed so that other jurisdictions can join later, under mutually agreeable arrangements, when those jurisdictions believe such a move is in their best interest. If Franklin County decides to join the Water Authority in the future, they too will be adequately represented.
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Questions & Answers Specific to Roanoke County:
Why is Roanoke County supportive of the project?
Roanoke County views this as a positive endeavor that will benefit the Roanoke Valley:
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This is an opportunity to help a neighboring locality.
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Because Roanoke County and Franklin County are partners in the project they will share the cost together.
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Since VDOT has allowed the water lines to be placed in existing right-of-way there should not be a need to access private property.
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Most localities, including Roanoke County, view transportation corridors, such as Route 220, as ideal areas for economic development to enhance the tax base and provide jobs.
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The project will make public water accessible to citizens who do not currently have access to this service.
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How will Roanoke County assure that growth in this area will be appropriate and controlled?
It is anticipated that the engineering and design work associated with the project will take at least six months followed by a construction period of a year to a year-and-a-half. During the first six months, Roanoke County expects to complete a corridor study of the Route 220 area. The corridor study will look closely at the area’s comprehensive plan and make any necessary amendments. It will also include a traffic analysis that will address any road improvements as well as the impact of I-73. In addition, it will address zoning, land-use and environmental issues in order to determine the criteria needed to analyze future sites for commercial, industrial and residential development. Final decisions regarding zoning issues and future development will be determined by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
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How will Roanoke County fund its part of the project?
The Water Authority will issue the bonds for the project, with the debt service to be repaid by the localities. Roanoke County’s portion of the project equates to $2.3 million or approximately $170,000 a year. Roanoke County expects to recoup its investment from increased tax revenues and connection fees from new commercial and residential developers in the corridor.
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