The big hole that has been in the making at the intersection of Routes 14 and 198 at Ward’s Corner in Mathews is a sediment basin to hold any run-off from construction while the intersection is being revamped this spring, according to officials with the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Site superintendent John Lahocki, who works for VDOT contractor J.L. Kent & Sons of Fredericksburg, said it’s one of two basins that will be used for that purpose.

The plan for the intersection is to do away with the triangle-shaped median and the yield signs and have a regular T-intersection, said Lahocki. This should make the intersection safer, he said, because vehicles won’t have to stop at yield signs and take a chance on tying up traffic on Route 198. In addition, traffic will flow better because northbound traffic will have a left-hand turn lane for turning off Route 198 and onto Route 14, while vehicles traveling south toward Mathews Court House will have a short...