Work resumes on Nash Road Extension Project in Chesterfield after graves safely removed
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, (WRIC) -- Work on part of the Nash Road Extension project in Chesterfield is officially back on. Construction was paused earlier this year after a large gravesite was found in the work area near the intersection of Beach and Nash Road. Eighteen gravesites were found in one of the construction areas of the Nash Road Extension Project in April. The graves were professionally removed on Oct. 28, and officials say that work on that part of the project carefully continued on the following day, Oct. 29. “No one was anticipating finding it. It was it was quite a surprise,” said Bill Arel, the Chesterfield County Project Manager. He says that the April discovery of the 18 gravesites was the first in his 25 years of experience. “So, in terms of the overall project, there was almost no noticeable delay,” Arel said. However, over the next several months, Chesterfield County took the necessary steps to ensure that the remains were carefully removed from the work site. After they were removed, they were stored somewhere safe until located descendants could take over. “We started back working in the area that was off limits essentially because of this. Work is progressing very carefully. So, every time we go back in the same area of the burial, we've got an archeologist on site just to make sure there's no more surprises,” Arel said. Under the project, Nash Road is being extended from Beach Road to Iron Bridge Road to cut down on congestion and crashes that frequently occur in the area. The project includes adding a two-lane road, a new intersection with turn lanes at the intersection of Route 10, a roundabout with Beach Road and a bridge going over Swift Creek. “We think it'll also help us operationally with what is a dangerous intersection at Beach Road and in Nash,” Arel said. “So, when we install that roundabout, roundabouts bring a lot of safety benefits with them at lower speeds, lowers severe crashes and really keeps vehicles moving.” Arel says the project is still on track to be completed by spring 2026.
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CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, (WRIC) -- Work on part of the Nash Road Extension project in Chesterfield is officially back on. Construction was paused earlier this year after a large gravesite was found in the work area near the intersection of Beach and Nash Road.
Eighteen gravesites were found in one of the construction areas of the Nash Road Extension Project in April. The graves were professionally removed on Oct. 28, and officials say that work on that part of the project carefully continued on the following day, Oct. 29.
“No one was anticipating finding it. It was it was quite a surprise,” said Bill Arel, the Chesterfield County Project Manager. He says that the April discovery of the 18 gravesites was the first in his 25 years of experience.
“So, in terms of the overall project, there was almost no noticeable delay,” Arel said.
However, over the next several months, Chesterfield County took the necessary steps to ensure that the remains were carefully removed from the work site. After they were removed, they were stored somewhere safe until located descendants could take over.
“We started back working in the area that was off limits essentially because of this. Work is progressing very carefully. So, every time we go back in the same area of the burial, we've got an archeologist on site just to make sure there's no more surprises,” Arel said.
Under the project, Nash Road is being extended from Beach Road to Iron Bridge Road to cut down on congestion and crashes that frequently occur in the area. The project includes adding a two-lane road, a new intersection with turn lanes at the intersection of Route 10, a roundabout with Beach Road and a bridge going over Swift Creek.
“We think it'll also help us operationally with what is a dangerous intersection at Beach Road and in Nash,” Arel said. “So, when we install that roundabout, roundabouts bring a lot of safety benefits with them at lower speeds, lowers severe crashes and really keeps vehicles moving.”
Arel says the project is still on track to be completed by spring 2026.
