Route 311 Connector Road

A new 2.4-mile connector road now links the Danville Expressway to Berry Hill Road (Route 311) in Pittsylvania County. The result is a faster, safer route for traffic moving through the Route 58 corridor and directly supporting access to the rapidly developing Berry Hill Industrial Park. With more than 3,500 acres, the mega site is positioned to attract significant investment and potentially create thousands of new jobs in the region.

CHALLENGE

This project required building a new highway corridor, while also accommodating significant changes to the civil design after construction had started to meet today’s needs and accommodate tomorrow’s growth. The work included clearing and grubbing, installation of erosion and sediment control measures, performing significant mass soil and rock excavation, and storm sewer installation.

SOLUTION

The civil design changes for the new connector road was built as a new two-lane roadway, but graded to accommodate for a future four-lane expansion, which allowed for immediate mobility with long-term expansion capacity built in. Crews cleared 44 acres, installed multiple box culverts and storm drainage systems, built bioretention facilities, executed mass excavation with rock blasting, and completed the corridor with subgrade stone, asphalt paving, and final signage.

The team tackled the material issue early, verifying surveys and using drone flights after clearing to assess conditions. They confirmed excess material, not a shortage, and addressed disposal through a change order without delaying the work. The result: delivery in 36 months—far ahead of the typical 54-month timeline—improving safety, connectivity, and travel time along Route 58 while supporting growth at Berry Hill Industrial Park.