VDOT says long-awaited paving of road in Colonial Beach subdivision won't start until Spring 2010, according to a recent article from The Free-Lance Start.

Residents of Riverside Meadows have been complaining some time about issues within their new sudivision including paving a road and drainage issues. This is an example of how homeowners can protect the value of their home and press their county officials to fix such problems, even though it is a long, hard battle.

"Only three-tenths of a mile of help is on the horizon next year for residents seeking paved streets in Riverside Meadows in Colonial Beach.

VDOT officials told Westmoreland County supervisors that the paving of .32 mile of Santa Maria Avenue has been postponed until next spring, not this fall as originally scheduled.

That will still leave 3.3 miles of dusty, muddy dirt roads in the subdivision for residents to endure until state and local money becomes available to pave them. If it ever becomes available at all.

Matching funds for the first piece of paving were appropriated in 2008-- $50,000 from Westmoreland County and $50,000 from Colonial Beach. Facing tight budgets, the jurisdictions approved no additional funds this year for any subsequent asphalt.

VDOT agreed to match the $100,000 local contribution with funds from its shrinking revenue-sharing program. Town officials, however, encountered problems establishing right-of-way lines for some lots in the subdivision.

'We didn't get the plans until last month,' said Sean P. Trepani, VDOT administrator for the Northern Neck. The surveys were necessary to transfer ownership of the Santa Maria right-of-way to the state.

The right-of-way will probably be accepted by the Commonwealth Transportation Board next month, he said. Only then can VDOT begin to obtain permits to pave the road. Winter weather will probably arrive before the permits, he said."

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