Signs of progress on outer loop road

Allison Brophy Champion / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: May 10, 2007

With the town's western inner loop road on hold indefinitely, focus has shifted to the broader outer loop, a 2.4-mile road connecting Sperryville Pike at the Pelham's Reach subdivision north to route 729.

Culpeper Town and County are both saving money for the $8 million road, and the Virginia Department of Transportation is expected to hold a public hearing on the project in late summer or early fall, according to Town Manager Brannon Godfrey, getting the process started.

By that time, the required 70 percent of road costs will have been saved through VDOT's revenue sharing program in which localities earmark money for road projects and the state matches it, thus expediting the process. Design and land acquisition for the outer loop is expected to take two years, Godfrey said.

That means construction wouldn't start until late 2009.
"County government and town government are interested in seeing it move as quickly as possible," he said.

To that end, Town Council agreed Tuesday to send a letter to the county, expressing its continued interest in getting the bypass road built. The county, likewise, sent a letter to the town in November, expressing its interest in collaborating with the town financially on the project.

"We are very eager to get started on this project," said Town Councilman Chip Coleman.

"Let's do it."

Allison Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or

Doggone it
The town of Culpeper is considering restrictions on dogs at special events and parades.

As part of its regular review of the town code, Town Council held a first hearing Tuesday on two canine-related amendments. No comments were made.

If the first change is approved next month, dogs and other domestic animals "may be prohibited from the streets and sidewalks along the parade route at the direction of the town manager." This would not apply to guide dogs, hearing dogs, service dogs or police dogs.

The second code change would prohibit dogs in town parks during special events, namely the annual Fourth of July celebration in Yowell Meadow Park. Again, this would not apply to service dogs.

The changes are necessitated, town police and administration say, in the interest of public safety. Police consistently receive complaints about vicious and unruly dogs in the park during special events, especially at the Fourth of July.