West Ridge High School, $60M road project on pace for 2025

TL;DR: West Ridge High School and a $60 million north-south road connector in western Chesterfield County are both scheduled to open in August 2027.

The story

West Ridge High School, Chesterfield County's first new high school in more than two decades, reached a major construction milestone on June 16, 2026, when county and school leaders celebrated the topping-out ceremony marking placement of the building's final structural beam.

The $135 million facility at 17500 Duval Road in the western Route 360 corridor will accommodate approximately 2,400 students in grades 9 through 12. The 340,000-square-foot, two-story building will feature two full-size gymnasiums, a 3,500-seat stadium, specialized arts and career education classrooms, dedicated special education space, baseball and softball diamonds, and parking for school and community events. The school is being built to relieve overcrowding at nearby Cosby High School and accommodate future enrollment growth in the western portion of the county. West Ridge High is scheduled to open in August 2027 under the leadership of Principal Dr. Elizabeth Baber.

Complementing the school's opening is the North-South Collector, a $60 million road project designed to improve connectivity in western Chesterfield. The four-lane road will connect Westerleigh Parkway to Duval Road and include a bridge over Horsepen Creek, widening of Duval Road to four lanes, a roundabout at the intersection of the new road and Duval, and shared-use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists. The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors approved a $43 million construction contract with Shirley Contracting Co. in November 2024. The northern segment of the new roadway, including the extension of Westerleigh Parkway, has already opened. The road project is scheduled for completion in August 2027.

Both projects are part of infrastructure development in the western area as the county accommodates growth. The school will be located near Deep Creek Middle School, which opened in August 2025, and Deep Creek Elementary School, which opened in August 2026.

Key players

• Chesterfield County Public Schools: School operator; project owner
• Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: Approved funding and contracts
• Shirley Contracting Co.: Road construction contractor
• Dr. Elizabeth Baber: Principal, West Ridge High School

Key dates

• 2027-08: West Ridge High School opening; North-South Collector road completion

Places

• West Ridge High School
• Duval Road
• Westerleigh Parkway
• Deep Creek Middle School
• Deep Creek Elementary School
• Cosby High School
• Horsepen Creek
• Route 360

Related links

• Chesterfield County Public Schools
• West Ridge High School Construction Update
• Western Area Capital Improvement Projects
• Chesterfield County Transportation Projects

Read the original at Richmond BizSense →

Sources

• Chesterfield Marks Milestone in Construction of New West Ridge High School
• New high school, $60M road project in western Chesterfield on track for completion next year
• Chesterfield OKs $43M contract for road project around new schools
• Western Area Capital Improvement Projects
• Chesterfield County Public Schools