By Sandy James
Review Staff Writer
Published: April 24, 2008

The Town of Gordonsville put trucks on High Street in December 2001, as a temporary measure to relieve traffic congestion on Main Street, until a bypass could be built around the town.
Dreams of a bypass soon faded into the dust and diesel fumes.
Citizens raised concerns about the trucks passing directly by Gordon-Barbour Elementary School and the traffic back-ups caused when a train is crossing High Street.
The truckers have problems getting out of High Street on either end. Route 231-West Gordon Avenue on the north end and Route 15-Martinsburg Avenue on the south end, do not have turn lanes and the big rigs have to swing across outside lanes to negotiate the turn.
Steve Powell, vice president of Buckingham Branch Railroad, said, “We have to do a lot more upkeep on the High Street crossing with this route being used for truck traffic.”
Powell has received several complaints on the condition of the crossing.
“We have applied for VDOT funds for upgrades,” he said.
Powell said the road was designed before Buckingham Branch Railroad took over the stretch of track that passes through Gordonsville.
“The bridge (on Main Street) was raised for trucks. High Street does not seem like the road for trucks,” Powell said. 
The Wal-Mart distribution Center at Zion Crossroads keeps trucks rolling down High Street, and the new Lowe’s Home Center, next door to the distribution center is near completion.
Gordonsville’s mayor, Bob Coiner said the residential growth at Zion Crossroads will likely benefit the town businesses, but the retail growth with only pull more traffic through Gordonsville.
“I get calls all the time about the trains and the trucks on High Street. I want the citizens to understand this is not just a High Street problem, but also a Gordonsville problem,” Coiner said.
“The General Assembly is not funding any transportation needs right now,” he said.
Coiner feels a hike in the fuel tax will be the only way to bring up state revenues to help with transportation.
“The state says there is not enough money to conduct the by-pass study and asked the board of supervisors if they were willing to fund approximately $300,000 with local funds. The board has said there are more pressing highway needs in the county. Butch Davies says the project will be dropped from the plan because of a lack of funds,” said county administrator Bill Rolfe.
Davies, the Culpeper district member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, said the VDOT funding cut was announced two weeks ago. He said 44 percent of all primary, secondary, and urban funding has been cut due to the budget. 
“I had asked for some indication on the part of the county that they would add dollars to help move this forward either from proffer funds or revenue sharing. This was not forth coming. I have no choice. I cannot continue to list projects on the six-year plan that are not funded. The only funding this has gotten in four years is the planning and engineering funding of $250,000. There has been no other funding available,” Davies said.
“It’s not what I want. It is the financial reality. I have worked hard on this and got it in the six-year plan to begin with,” he said.
“Community priorities shift. The county is focused on Route 20 safety projects. This is a valid priority, but impacted by the same cut in funding,” Davies said.
“This is not a good season for transportation. Numerous projects are being delayed or cut. The Gordonsville bypass will return, but it will have to be in better financial times with local government commitment,” Davies said.
Davies said citizens should write letters to the Governor, Edd Houck and to Ed Scott. 
“We need their help in getting funding,” he said.
Mayor Coiner said he will keep the Gordonsville bypass from being forgotten by making his voice heard at meetings on local and state levels and he encourages Gordonsville citizens to do the same.