Va. to study US 29 from NC border to Gainesville

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) _ Virginia transportation officials are planning a big-picture study of U.S. 29 from the North Carolina border to Gainesville.

Virginia Department of Transportation officials discussed the study Thursday with Lynchburg business and government officials. The study’s leader, Charles Rasnick, said the goals are to keep the road safe and preserve it as an economic lifeline for Virginia’s Piedmont region.

Public meetings are planned in February. Rasnick said comments from these meetings will be added to information from previous studies, along with data on traffic and accidents.

The study is expected to be completed by November 2009.