By ANDREW FAISON/CORRESPONDENT
andrew.faison@yahoo.com

COURTLAND—The Virginia Department of Transportation is evaluating additional options to minimize the adverse impact of the replacement of the Route 35 bridge in Courtland.

The options have not been made public.

The public hearing that was originally scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 18, has been postponed until mid-November at a date to be announced.

Originally scheduled to begin in September 2013, the $13.8 million project will take VDOT nearly two years to complete

Southampton County Administrator Mike Johnson had expressed concerns to VDOT for public safety and economic impact on Courtland when the 83-year-old bridge is closed for replacement.

Based on the current construction plans, a seven-mile detour would have to be planned via Route 58 and Business Route 58.