FR-25-02: Route 17/Route 17 Business (Main Street) - Gloucester County
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Belroi/Town of Gloucester Area (Hospital Drive/Belroi Road to Justice Drive)
Project Purpose
The purpose of this study is to analyze the operational and safety issues identified along Route 17 from McFadden Way/Hospital Drive to Belroi Road, and along Route 17 Business from Route 17 to Justice Drive, with a focus on providing enhanced bicycle and transit access, capacity preservation, safety improvements, and transportation demand management. Recurring congestion occurs Monday-Friday near the Route 17 intersections at McFadden Way/Hospital Drive, Route 17 Business, and Belroi Road. The corridor has a high number of rear-end crashes. The objective of this study is to identify cost-effective preferred improvement alternatives that address the documented needs.
Survey
The Phase 2 survey regarding proposed alternatives for Route 17 between McFadden Way/Hospital Drive and Belroi Road, and on Main Street from Route 17 to Justice Drive in Gloucester County was completed in November 2025. The study team will use the input obtained from the public as it refines the alternatives and performs planning-level cost estimation before selecting the preferred alternative(s) to address the identified needs.
Public Meeting
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in partnership with Gloucester County, held a public information meeting to share potential improvements proposed by two transportation studies underway in Gloucester County.
Thursday, November 13, 2025, 5-7 p.m.
Gloucester County Main Library
6920 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061
Meeting documents
Public Information Meeting Newspaper Advertisement - PDF, 275KB
Study Partners
- Gloucester County
- Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO)
- Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC)
- Bay Transit
Key Points of Contact
District Leads: Linda LaSut and Rachel Inman
Lead Consultants: Andy Nagle and Olivia Persing
Schedule
Start date: March 2025
End date: August 2026
Study Documents
| Dates | Number of Participants (unique individuals) |
|---|---|
|
May 7-21, 2025
|
438 |
| The following needs have been identified for this study. Do you agree with these needs? | |
|---|---|
| Capacity preservation (keep traffic flowing smoothly) | 79% |
| Safety improvement | 62% |
| Pedestrian safety improvement | 57% |
| Bicycle access | 42% |
| Transportation demand management (TDM) | 30% |
| Transit access | 22% |
| Rank the following needs in order of importance to you along the study area. | |
|---|---|
| Reducing traffic congestion | 87% |
| Corridor safety / intersection safety | 76% |
| Pedestrian safety and accessibility | 77% |
| Speeding / aggressive driving | 81% |
| Proper pavement marking and signage | 74% |
| Bicycle safety and accessibility | 69% |
| Public transit access and service | 68% |
| Which of the following safety issues concern you? | |
|---|---|
| Speeding / aggressive driving | 62% |
| Running red lights | 41% |
| Sudden stopping / rear-end crashes | 41% |
| Lack of sidewalks / missing sidewalks | 39% |
| Insufficient / missing crosswalks and pedestrian signal timing | 39% |
| Inadequate pavement marking and signage | 29% |
| Inadequate bicycle facilities | 28% |
| Inadequate lighting | 24% |
| Difficulty weaving / merging | 22% |
| Side-impact crashes | 19% |
| Lack of ADA ramps and accessibility | 14% |
| Closely spaced driveways | 9% |
| Inadequate transit / bus stops | 9% |
| Other | 6% |
| What mobility issues do you typically experience when using the study area? | |
|---|---|
| Poor signal coordination | 41% |
| Difficulty making left turns | 40% |
| Lack of turn lanes | 32% |
| Difficulty when walking | 29% |
| Vehicles blocking entrances | 26% |
| Difficulty when riding a bicycle | 23% |
| Difficulty accessing businesses | 20% |
| Other | 7% |
| What mode(s) of travel do you use when traveling along the study area? | |
|---|---|
| Personal vehicle | 100% |
| Walking | 30% |
| Cycling | 14% |
| Truck or commercial vehicle | 6% |
| Other | 3% |
| Metro bus, local bus, or commuter bus | 1% |
| Carpool / Vanpool | 1% |
| Taxi / Uber / Lyft | 0% |
Phase 1 FR-25-02 Executive Summary - PDF, 800KB
Last updated: December 1, 2025
