VDOT to Reschedule Martinsville Southern Connector Hearing

MARTINSVILLE – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will reschedule a previously announced public hearing to solicit input on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Route 220 Martinsville Southern Connector Study.   

On March 12, Governor Northam declared a state of emergency for Virginia in response to the continued spread of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. To adhere with the Governor’s orders, VDOT is postponing the Martinsville Southern Connector Study Public Hearing on the Draft EIS that was originally scheduled for March 26 at Drewry Mason Elementary School.

VDOT is also exploring other methods to solicit public input on the Draft EIS. In February 2018, VDOT, in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), initiated the Martinsville Southern Connector Study, an EIS that evaluates potential improvements to the Route 220 corridor in Henry County between the Route 58/Route 220 Bypass and the North Carolina state line. 

VDOT is soliciting input on its Draft EIS, which documents the purpose and need, range of alternatives and an analysis of the impacts of each alternative on a host of social and environmental resources. The Draft EIS also identifies the preferred alternative to be analyzed in a Final EIS. The Draft EIS was made available for public review and comment starting on March 6, 2020.