by Madison White Franks
LANCASTER—The Lancaster board of supervisors on August 30 considered a number of items related to the Robert O. Norris Jr. Memorial Bridge, as well as several unrelated proposed ordinances and resolutions.
Bridge
Dominion Energy requested a special exception to build and maintain an electrical substation/transition station to convert an overhead transmission now connected to the Robert O. Norris Memorial Bridge to an underwater line as required by the State Corporation Commission (SCC), said interim county administrator Don Gill.
The station will be adjacent to 165 High Bank Road in White Stone. A similar station will be constructed across the Rappahannock River in Topping.
Following a public hearing, District 3 supervisor Jason Bellows moved to grant the special exception and the ordinance passed unanimously, 5-0, with support from District 1 supervisor Jack Larson, District 2 supervisor Ernest Palin, District 4 supervisor Bill Lee, District 5 supervisor Bob Westbrook and Bellows.
During the hearing, county broadband authority member Gary Silverman of Morattico asked if there would be a possibility of running a messenger line/fiber optic internet cable within the same conduit when running the new transmission line. This cable would make expanding internet and broadband services in the area a bit easier, said Silverman.
County attorney Jim Cornwell said it is not possible.
There would be the need for more right-of-way, said Bellows.
It could not go into the same conduit, it would have to be separate, said Dominion Energy representative Amanda Mayhew.
Also related to the bridge, supervisors adopted a resolution supporting the replacement of the bridge and opposing any reduction in vertical or horizontal clearances as the Virginia Department of Transportation considers plans for the future…
