2025 SESSION

SENATE SUBSTITUTE

25105964D

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 263

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules)

on January 24, 2025)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Senator Aird)

Requesting the Department of Transportation to study the need and options for constructing a bridge from Surry County to James City County or Charles City County. Report.

WHEREAS, Surry County has recently completed a successful broadband access project, bringing high-speed Internet to residents of Surry County; and

WHEREAS, as a result of such investment in Internet and data infrastructure, Surry County is experiencing an increase in visitors to the locality and a need for more housing stock; and

WHEREAS, Surry Power Station is one of Dominion Energy's two nuclear assets in the Commonwealth, and the nuclear facility, which is located adjacent to the Hog Island Wildlife Management Area, provides clean, carbon-free energy to power 420,000 homes and employs thousands of Virginians in full-time and part-time jobs; and

WHEREAS, a bridge connecting Surry County to James City County or Charles City County is desperately needed to support new growth in Surry County; and

WHEREAS, such bridge would benefit transportation throughout the entire Hampton Roads region and therefore requires a statewide approach to planning and funding; and

WHEREAS, consideration of the location of potential infrastructure is needed to ensure such proposed route would not impact Jamestown or any other historical assets in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Transportation be requested to study the need and options for constructing a bridge from Surry County to James City County or Charles City County.

In conducting its study, and for the purpose of informing a future Planning and Environmental Linkages study, the Department of Transportation shall (i) survey and identify potential locations for constructing a bridge over the James River from Surry County to either James City County or Charles City County and evaluate the potential environmental impacts and any technical considerations associated with each identified location to provide a recommendation of the most suitable locations for the construction of a bridge; (ii) evaluate the benefit such bridge would provide to Surry County, James City County, Charles City County, and the entire region, including the impact on safety, by providing an additional route for evacuation in the event of flooding or major storms, allowing faster responses by emergency services, and relieving traffic congestion; (iii) develop cost estimates for the erection and maintenance of a bridge for each identified potential crossing site and determine the estimated length of time for project completion for each potential crossing location; and (iv) evaluate possible funding options for the construction of a bridge spanning from Surry County to either James City County or Charles City County.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Transportation for this study, upon request.

The Department of Transportation shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2025, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.