CDOT lays out plans for Powhite Parkway extension
Posted October 15, 2025 at 12:03 AM, Filed Under: All News, Front PageBy Greg Pearson
Phase 1 of the Powhite Parkway Extension from its intersection with Charter Colony Parkway westward to Woolridge Road is already underway. Funding in the amount of $200 million has been secured, according to Bill Arel, principal engineer for the Chesterfield Department of Transportation (CDOT). Arel was the featured speaker at the October meeting of the Brandermill Region Men’s Club (BRMC).
Phase 1 of the Powhite Extension also includes connecting Woolridge Road at the traffic circle with Old Hundred Road north to the Woolridge Road exit off Route 288. Much of that area was zoned residential about 18 years ago and then went bankrupt in the real estate crash of 2008- 09. Known as Roseland, it included sizable commercially zoned developments plus zoning for over 5,000 single and multifamily homes. Connecting both ends of Woolridge Road together will begin in 2026 and take an estimated three years to complete.
Unlike the existing Powhite Parkway, there will be traffic lights at the intersections of Charter Colony Parkway, Brandermill Parkway and Woolridge Road. The Charter Colony intersection will be refigured and pass over the Powhite Extension. The Powhite Parkway PowerPoint presented by Arel is here.
Watermill Parkway will also pass over the Powhite Extension. Further west, the Powhite Extension will dead end at Woolridge Road until Phase 2 commences. Phase 2 will have the Powhite bear to the left and continue further westward through the Magnolia Green community and ending at Route 360 near Grange Hall Elementary School. Currently, there is no funding for Phase 2 and no timetable for starting or completing Phase 2.
Brandermill commuters headed home can exit the Powhite at Brandermill Parkway but not be able to turn left in order to enter the planned community. They will be required to turn right and head north on Brandermill Parkway away from Brandermill. But after a short distance, those commuters will enter a traffic roundabout and be able to reverse directions and head south back to Brandermill.
The road improvements also include extending Centerpointe Parkway at Tomahawk Middle School and building an expensive bridge across Tomahawk Creek to reach Woolridge Road. Extending the Powhite is a joint effort between CDOT and VDOT. Arel has previously worked for VDOT and his connections there will aid the cooperation between the two departments. “Our relationship with VDOT is like brother and sister, which means from time to time we fight,” he said.
With the demise of the Chesterfield Observer, the BRMC began inviting non-members to its speaker programs to help fill the void of news coverage for Chesterfield. Jessica Schneider, Clover Hill supervisor, will be the speaker at the November 6 meeting of the BRMC. She will likely be asked about the numerous multifamily developments in western Chesterfield and the status of the water park on Genito Road.
Free coffee and pastries begin at 9:15 am, and Supervisor Schneider starts speaking at 10 am at the Brandermill Church. All county residents are invited to attend.