Sidewalk construction begins next month on Midlothian Turnpike

TL;DR: Chesterfield County will begin construction in August 2026 on a $4.7 million sidewalk project along Midlothian Turnpike from Ruthers Road to Karl Linn Drive.

The story

Chesterfield County will begin construction in August 2026 to add pedestrian infrastructure along a heavily trafficked commercial section of Midlothian Turnpike. The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors awarded a $4.7 million contract to Muller Inc. in late June 2026 for improvements extending from Ruthers Road to Karl Linn Drive.

The project scope includes sidewalk construction on both sides of the roadway, pedestrian crossings at Ruthers Road and Turner Road, traffic signal modifications, drainage improvements, and road widening on southbound Turner Road. Nate Mathis, principal engineer with the Chesterfield Department of Transportation, emphasized the safety imperative: "We just need to get people a safe place to walk out of traffic. We want to focus the money where the most need is...Midlothian Turnpike...is a very tough area."

The county conducted pedestrian crash studies that documented safety concerns before planning these improvements. The area is densely commercial with high foot traffic from shopping and dining destinations. The $4.7 million contract from Muller Inc. exceeded the project's original cost estimate of $3.6 million by roughly 32 percent, though Muller submitted the lower of two bids received. Federal Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) funds will pay for the work. Construction is expected to take approximately one year.

This project represents the first phase of planned pedestrian improvements on Midlothian Turnpike. A second phase targeting the end of 2029 will include a median path beneath Chippenham Parkway with protective barriers. The county is also working on broader pedestrian and transit improvements for the entire Eastern Route 60 corridor as part of its long-term planning strategy.

Key players

• Chesterfield Department of Transportation: Project oversight and management
• Muller Inc.: Construction contractor
• Nate Mathis: Principal engineer, Chesterfield Department of Transportation

Key dates

• 2026-08-01: Construction begins on Midlothian Turnpike sidewalk project
• 2027-08-01: Project completion expected (approximately one year from start)
• 2029-12-31: Phase 2 improvements targeted to begin (median path beneath Chippenham Parkway)

Why it matters: The project will improve pedestrian safety on one of Chesterfield's busiest commercial corridors and provide safer walking paths for shoppers, diners, and other pedestrians who navigate the roadway on foot.

Places

• Midlothian Turnpike
• Ruthers Road
• Karl Linn Drive
• Turner Road
• Chippenham Parkway

Related links

• Chesterfield County Transportation
• Transportation Projects - Chesterfield County, VA
• Board of Supervisors - Chesterfield County, VA

Read the original at NBC12 / WWBT News →

Sources

• 12 On Your Side - Construction starts next month to add sidewalks along part of Midlothian Turnpike
• Richmond BizSense - The Agenda: Local government briefs for 6.29.26
• Chesterfield County Transportation