County to Extend Nash Road with State Funding
TL;DR: Nash Road extension from Beach Road to Route 10 opened to traffic in December 2025, six months ahead of schedule, with final completion pending utility lighting work targeted for late 2026.
Quick facts
- Who: Chesterfield County; contractor Wagman Heavy Civil; Dominion Energy
- What: 1-mile Nash Road extension with roundabout, Swift Creek bridge, traffic signal; funded 50/50 state and county
- When: Opened December 2025; final completion late 2026
- Where: Nash Road from Beach Road to Route 10 (Iron Bridge Road)
The story
Chesterfield County's Nash Road extension opened to traffic in early December 2025, delivering the $35 million project roughly six months ahead of its original spring 2026 completion target. The roughly one-mile roadway extends Nash Road from Beach Road to Route 10 (Iron Bridge Road) and includes a roundabout at the Beach Road intersection, a 600-foot bridge spanning Swift Creek, two traffic lanes with 4-foot paved shoulders, and a new traffic signal with turn lanes at the Route 10 intersection.
The project, funded with $25 million in local funding and $10 million in state money (a 50-50 split from Revenue Sharing funds), was designed to address congestion at the heavily trafficked Beach Road and Route 10 intersection. County officials expect the extension to reduce congestion at that intersection by approximately 50 percent and provide an alternate route for commuters on Routes 10 and 288. Senior Engineer Bill Arel noted that the project created "a safer intersection here (at Beach and Nash)."
Groundbreaking occurred on October 11, 2023, with Pennsylvania-based Wagman Heavy Civil Inc. holding the $25 million construction contract. The project emerged from a five-year planning process and serves residents in both the Dale and Matoaca districts who use the corridor.
Construction encountered a notable delay in April 2024 when workers discovered 11 graves from an 1800s family plot in the work area near Beach and Nash roads. After coordination with descendants, remains were professionally reinterred at Sunset Memorial Park in summer 2024, and construction resumed.
Final project completion now depends on Dominion Energy's installation of roundabout lighting. The utility has delivered its hardware, but replacement parts were ordered, pushing the lighting completion target to late 2026. Motorists should anticipate intermittent lane closures along Route 10 as this work continues.
Key players
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: Project approval and oversight
- Wagman Heavy Civil Inc.: Construction contractor
- Bill Arel: Senior Engineer, project manager
- Dominion Energy: Roundabout lighting installation
Key dates
- 2021-01-13: Virtual design hearing held
- 2023-08: Board of Supervisors approved $25 million Wagman Heavy Civil contract
- 2023-10-11: Groundbreaking ceremony
- 2024-04: Graves discovered during construction near Beach and Nash roads
- 2024-10: Construction resumed after remains reinterred
- 2025-12: Extension opened to traffic, six months ahead of schedule
- 2026-12: Dominion Energy roundabout lighting completion targeted
The case for
The extension provides critical congestion relief at an intersection that has become both overloaded and hazardous, reduces travel times for commuters, creates network redundancy, and arrived ahead of schedule.
The case against
The project took a decade of planning and construction and required discovery and reinterment of remains, disrupting the timeline and adding complexity to the work.
Why it matters: For thousands of daily commuters in the Dale and Matoaca districts, this extension cuts travel times, reduces congestion, and provides a safer alternate route to Routes 10 and 288. The completed project demonstrates the county's ability to deliver major infrastructure improvements ahead of schedule.
Places
Development timeline
- 2021-01-13Virtual design hearing held: Public input gathered on project design with transcript available [source]
- 2023-08Wagman Heavy Civil awarded construction contract: $25 million contract for Pennsylvania-based contractor, first Chesterfield County project [source]
- 2023-10-11Groundbreaking ceremony: Project launch with Board chair Kevin Carroll emphasizing congestion relief for morning commuters [source]
- 2024-0411 graves discovered in work area: Construction paused near Beach and Nash roads after finding 1800s family plot remains [source]
- 2024-10Construction resumed: Work resumed after remains were professionally reinterred at Sunset Memorial Park [source]
- 2025-12Extension opened to traffic: Nash Road extension opened to traffic in early December, six months ahead of spring 2026 target [source]
Related links
- Nash Road Extension project page - Chesterfield County
- Contact: Bill Arel, Senior Engineer - 804-748-1037
Read the original at Transportation Projects →
Sources
- Nash Road Extension project details - Chesterfield County
- Nash Road Extension groundbreaking - Chesterfield County
- $35M Nash Road extension in Chesterfield now open to traffic - Richmond BizSense