By SHARON KILPATRICK

By SHARON KILPATRICK

Rappahannock News Staff Writer

The planned four-laning of U.S. 211 between Wash-: ington and Sperryville is on hold, at least temporarily.

The first phase of construction, from the end of the current four-lane section to the Covington River bridge was scheduled to be advertised for bids in April. At press time there was no new date for advertising for this section of road.

The chief problem seems to be acquiring the right-ofway through the location of the current B and B Service Center. Tests indicate that there is contiminated soil on the property. Resident Engineer Robert Moore said that if all the problems are cleared away soon, the project could be advertised at the end of June, but as time passes “July looks more likely.”

Although Mike and Judy Brown, who own B and B, are not happy with the price they have been offered for the property, road construction could proceed while that is being resolved in the courts.

However, the Virginia Department of Transportation does not want to take ownership of the property until something is resolved about removing the contaminated soil.

A study by students at Old Dominion University in 1989 first picked up the potential problem of contamination in the soil. As a result Quarles Oil, which supplies gasoline to the station, commissioned a more thorough study by Environment Technology Inc. of Richmond. The report was sent to the State Water Control Board.

Mike Cason, manager of Quarles Oil, said that wells at nearby houses were tested and no contamination found. “The water table is very high there,” he said. Groundwater near the underground tanks was tested and “very little contamination was in that. It looks like everything is satisfactory. It hasn’t migrated. There is a small area just where the tanks are. Maybe it is just spillage.” Mr. Cason said the tanks had been tested and were not leaking. “Our inventory record shows no loss of product there,” he said.

Once some sort of agreement is reached with the highway department, he said, Quarles Oil will remove the tanks and the contaminated soil.

Mr. Moore said, “We’re waiting on the SWCB for some final decision on whether the contaminated soil problem has been solved. This is the only property that is holding up the advertisement.”

Frank Edens, a spokesman for the right-of-way acquisition office in Culpeper agreed. Everything is cleared with us,” he said. “We’ve negotiated with all the property owners and have reported to Richmond for their action.” He said the department would be able to advertise for the project once certificates for all the properties have been filed in the courthouse. “Once the certificate has been filed, it gives us the right of entry on to the property.” He was not certain if all the certificates had been filed, but

See FOUR LANE, p. 14