Only a handful of people attended a design public hearing about pedestrian improvements in lower Gloucester last Wednesday, March 23. No opposition was expressed, said Gregory W. Tkac, project manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Tkac said that he also had received several favorable comments about the project from local residents prior to the hearing at the Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue building, Hayes. The public can comment until Monday by e-mail to Gregory.Tkac@VDOT.Virginia.gov or traditional mail to 87 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg, Va. 22405, Attn: Gregory Tkac.

VDOT is proposing pedestrian improvements on Route 216 (Guinea Road), Route 1216 (Hayes Road), and Route 1219 (Hook Road). In all, the sidewalk will total slightly over a mile, Tkac said.

The sidewalk will include about 0.13 of a mile on Route 216, 0.12-mile along Route 1219, and 1.19-mile along Route 1216 (to its southern intersection with Bellehaven Drive). The sidewalk will be five feet wide, Tk...