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Currently, there are no mile markers on the Prince Edward County section of Route 360. Those markers make it easier to identify where an accident happens, to warn residents which section of a road they need to avoid or where potential traffic delays are. There are some on Route 360 as you drive through Charlotte County, but not on the Prince Edward side. County supervisors want to change that. 

During their Tuesday, April 8 budget work session, held before the regular meeting, supervisors voted to move forward with a project to install mile markers on that stretch of road. Normally, there would be some road funds on hand, but Prince Edward County Administrator Doug Stanley told the board those were all being used elsewhere. 

“Normally, we would accumulate safety funds for the project,” Stanley said. “Those are currently being allocated to finish the Abilene Road widening project with the goal to move to Meherrin Road as soon as Abilene is completed.” 

As a result, it’s up to Prince Edward to cover the cost, if this is something county officials want to move forward with. In terms of cost, VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) engineer Scott Frederick gave a rough estimate. It would cost $4,805.40 for the materials and $15,000 for labor. All total, Frederick recommended setting aside an estimate of about $20,000, so that a little extra is built in for rising costs. He also pointed out that in addition to being used for warnings and traffic control, mile markers help with emergency response vehicles. It’s easier to pinpoint a wreck out on the road if you have an exact mile marker. 

Supervisors agreed, voting to install mile markers along with the Prince Edward section of Route 360, with the county providing funding and VDOT providing manpower. They authorized up to $20,000 in contingency funds to be spent on the work.