Overview This VDOT-led project will widen a half-mile portion of the S Washington Highway (Route 1) corridor from Arbor Oak Drive to Ashcake Road in the Town of Ashland. The project includes new left turn lanes as well as raised medians and sidewalks. The new enhancements will allow for improved safety and accessibility. At a Glance:Total Length - Approximately 0.45 milesConstruction Status - Currently under constructionEstimated Completion Date - Fall 2026

The Town of Ashland is revitalizing South Taylor Street Park to create a more accessible, active, and inclusive community space. Guided by the 2024 concept plan developed with the Timmons Group, the redesigned park will feature a new basketball/futsal court, expanded walking loops, interactive play areas, and improved landscaping. Key amenities include a new parking area, inclusive play equipment, a state-of-the-art high school sized basketball and futsal court, and an ADA accessible walking loop. The playground, installed in 2022, and picnic shelter will remain.   Construction is being completed by Talley & Armstrong, with work expected to be finished by winter 2026. Once complete, the updated park will offer a vibrant mix of recreation, play, and gathering opportunities for residents of all ages. Currently, the park is open, but visitors are asked not to enter the fenced in areas.

The goal of this project is to combine current and successful standards in downtown Ashland with new ideas to create a holistic gateway into the downtown area at a pedestrian scale while working in partnership with the businesses of the downtown area. A “streetscape” is a planned combination of improvements to beautify and improve the built environment along a roadway for the traveling public. It is often geared toward pedestrians in high-traffic areas, where shoppers, tourists, and other types of visitors are expected and desired. A streetscape will typically include a wide variety of site features, including street trees, street lighting, landscaping, enhanced sidewalks, site furniture, and related amenities.    For the Town of Ashland, England Street is the primary gateway into the downtown area. These planned streetscape improvements will help beautify and connect the public space. The streetscape master plan borrows elements from the streetscapes already in place in Ashland, such as the Railroad Avenue Streetscapes, the Municipal Parking Lot, the Plaza (at the library), the Town Hall grounds, the Ashland Train Station, and entry features for Randolph-Macon College. Spanning the length of England Street from Railroad Avenue to US Route 1, this project will include: relocation of utility poles and lines to improve aesthetics and functionalitywidened sidewalks to enhance pedestrian access and accessibilitycrooked neck light fixtures to match those already in place along Railroad Aveincreased landscaping and pedestrian-friendly benches