The newest route to business success opened in Chesterfield County on Thursday afternoon, said county leaders and the state secretary of transportation as they cut the ribbon on Exit 16, the latest access point to Interstate 295 and the proposed gateway to the Meadowville Technology Park.
"This is a great day for Chesterfield County," said Board of Supervisors Chairman A.S. "Art" Warren. "What we have here today is the power of partnership."
The $12.2 million project was paid for by the federal government ($4 million), the state ($5 million) and the county ($3.2 million).
Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton said the fast-moving project — it was completed in less than 14 months — was the kind of thing Gov. Bob McDonnell had in mind as the future of state transportation projects.
"It really symbolizes what we're trying to do," he said of a project that came about because of county insistence and county willingness to foot most of the bill.
County Administrator James J.L. Stegmaier said the new interchange was essential to successful development of the area.
"We always knew for Meadowville to reach its full potential, we would need this interchange to be here," he said.
He then challenged the county's economic development director, Will Davis, to make good on the thought.
"Now it's up to Will to close the deals and bring the jobs," he said. "We've given you the tools."
County officials think better highway access will spur development in the park. Owned by the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority, the park includes about 1,300 acres of land adjacent to I-295 just south of the James River. The area is zoned for a variety of pharmaceutical- and technology-based uses and is projected to include nearly 15 million square feet of office and industrial space.
The sole occupant at the moment is Northrop Grumman, which is running its Virginia Information Technology Agency operations from a $250 million facility in the park.
The county is also processing a generic application for a 1 million square foot distribution facility. County officials have declined to identify potential clients for that space.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement