Richmond’s Jahnke Road improvement project nearing construction after more than a decade

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond’s Jahnke Road improvement project will finally start after more than a decade of promises for better road conditions.

According to the city website, the project was adopted in 2014 to make safety improvements from Blakemore Road to Forest Hill Avenue. The project didn't reach construction phase until now, nearly a decade later.

The $30 million project, funded by federal dollars, will take two years to complete. Safety improvements include a dedicated sidewalk, bike lanes and curbed gutters for less flooding. Fourth district city councilwoman and longtime Forest Hill resident Sarah Abubaker said she herself knows the pain of waiting for this project to come to life.

“I too have been waiting for Jahnke Road to be improved for at least a decade, seeing it come to fruition in my first year on City council is exciting,” said Abubaker. “There are potholes, it's narrow. Children specifically walk alongside that road, either to get to school or to walk through the neighborhoods. And there isn't really a dedicated sidewalk.”

Abubaker said it will be a vital part in improving and connecting parts of South Richmond. 

“Jahnke Road is a divide between the fourth district and the ninth district. So, a historically white district, a historically black district,” said Abubaker. “Being able to have a way to tie those communities together more and with more methods for transportation is incredibly important and symbolic. I hope it's just the, you know, the start of a more improved, better infrastructure.

Abubaker said construction will start in November and the city will work closely with local schools and businesses to maintain a steady flow of traffic.