VDOT reviews driver feedback on potential Bryan Park Interchange road projects

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) received thousands of responses from the Richmond community about driver's thoughts on changing roads in and around the Bryan Park Interchange.

The results are from VDOT's STARS survey on the interchange to help make it safer.

More than 11,700 responses came in after drivers wrote to VDOT and gave opinions on several road projects. One was closing Exit 80 to Lakeside Avenue and Hermitage Road on I-95 northbound, and the reception was overwhelmingly negative. Others received mixed reviews.

"We had some people who were for the closing for Exit 80. Overwhelmingly, we did get a negative response for the closing of Exit 80, and it's a really strong chance we're not going to promote that because of that. But like I said there's still further analysis to do," said VDOT Richmond District Transportation Planning Manager Liz McAdory.

Every day, VDOT says it's balancing its operational needs with safety needs. That includes I-95 -- considered a large safety challenge.

For drivers concerned about getting to their homes and about businesses thriving, VDOT said there would always be another plan -- like a new exit -- if they did close Exit 80.

Drivers were also asked about widening the I-64/195 on-ramp to I-95, widening I-95 to 4 lanes under Hermitage Road and adding a roundabout to the Arthur Ashe Boulevard highway entrance and exit.

The latter received support and criticism, but VDOT said adding a new lane under Hermitage Road is not possible for safety reasons.

It's still early to tell though which projects will come into fruition, but VDOT hopes to have recommendations in place in December for Richmond, Henrico County or both to apply for funding.

"We are still kind of evaluating some of the public input. We're discussing that public input with the City of Richmond, Federal Highways and Henrico County and our central office staff to try to make a good decision," McAdory said.

VDOT would like to make it clear there will be more opportunities for public input if any of these projects are funded.