Second annual Hockett Road realignment meeting

 

Latest version of Hockett/Ashland Road connector

On January 13, 2026, VDOT held a “design public hearing” for the Hockett and Ashland Roads “improvement project” in eastern Goochland. This session was 365 days after a similar meeting on the same subject, allegedly to select the best location for the project. The notion of connecting Ashland and Hocket Roads through the parcel of vacant land on the south side of Broad Street Road at the end of Ashland Road, which is planted with crops during the growing season, has been on the local road planning radar since at least 2013.

Residents examine realignment proposal

The latest iteration, which VDOT officials assured GOMM, is the version that will be built, was unveiled on the 13th. This shows a roundabout by the entrance to the emergency veterinary clinic that will move traffic either north south on Hockett, or east west on the connector road.

VDOT literature distributed at the 2026 meeting states “the project proposes to construct a new two-lane road with a left turn lane at Broad Street and curb/gutter with sidewalk on one side of the roadway. The proposed connector roadway will link Hockett Road to Ashland Road at its intersection with Broad Street. A roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Hockett Road and Holly Lane. Concrete sidewalk will be installed on one side of the proposed roadway. Additional northbound turn lanes will be constructed at the new intersection of Ashland Road and Broad Street. An additional southbound turn lane will be constructed at the intersections with Broad Street and Ashland Road.” This is the version that VDOT presented last year as a possible location for the roundabout.

Officials said that the more northerly location for the roundabout removes wetland complications from the project. It will be farther from the Hickory Hill neighborhood also.

Unlike early versions of this project, the traffic signal at Hockett and Broad that allows left turns and through traffic, will not change.

Asked by a Goochland resident why the project shows sidewalks, but only on one side of the proposed road, a VDOT official—there were several at the session—explained that the agency is “all in” on multi-modal transportation, which requires sidewalks. The resident was skeptical that anyone would use the proposed sidewalk and mentioned the exorbitant cost of the half mile or so sidewalk in Courthouse Village—$7 million for about a half mile—as an example. It would be interesting to know how much sidewalks add to the project cost. Curiously, the elevation displayed on January 13 shows the sidewalk on the northern side of the new road, away from neighborhoods to the south.

Efforts will be made to minimize disruption to existing Hockett Road traffic during construction, VDOT  reps contended without details.

According to the flyer distributed at the meeting, the estimated cost of the project is $19,403, 631. Of that, $2,013,694 is allocated for engineering; $5,653,238 for right of way acquisition, and utility relocation; and $11,736,699 for construction. As project completion is now anticipated for Spring 2031, the final cost will likely increase. According to the VDOT flyer” This project is in the early design phase. Therefore, costs are subject to change. The project will be financed using a combination of federal and state funds.”

Right of way acquisition, purchasing easements for portions of land through which the road passes, includes an appraisal to determine the fair market value of the property in question so that landowners receive “just compensation—VDOT’s term. According to documents shared on January 13, this would affect about six parcels.

Rights of way needed for project

It seems like the proposed project will make the land it subdivides more developable and therefore valuable. In a perfect world, landowners would donate their easements to reduce the cost, and perhaps speed completion of the project or even build the road through their property if VDOT handles the roundabout and related road improvements. We do not live in a perfect world, so these road improvements move through the VDOT process with glacial speed.

Go go https://www.goochlandva.us/1254/Ashland-Rd-Extension for moreinformation.

Let’s hope that the uses the “measure twice cut once” theory to ensure that when this is finally built, it does not create more problems than it solves.

If you would like to comment on the project, email Thomas.Kendrick@VDOT.virginia. Gov with “UPC 105733 Route 623 (Hockett Road) Improve Intersection Public Hearing” in the subject line by January 23, 2026