WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to pass U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger’s legislation that would provide $1 million to improve drainage along Otterdale Road in Chesterfield County, alleviating the significant flooding that routinely occurs during heavy rainstorms at crossings along the road.

The funding for Chesterfield County — which Spanberger successfully secured as part of a House-passed fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations package — would be used specifically for safety improvements at the Swift Creek crossing. Ongoing flooding at Otterdale Road poses risks to the lives and safety of local residents, impedes commercial business in the area, and puts undue stress on the road infrastructure.

“Investments in our physical infrastructure are investments in the long-term safety and economic growth of our communities. The drainage improvements made possible through the one-million dollars allocated in this project will keep local residents safe on the roads and sustain this infrastructure for years to come,” said Spanberger. “I am proud to have worked directly with Chesterfield County officials to secure this funding. Providing the federal resources necessary to strengthen our local communities has been a priority of mine since first coming to Congress, and I thank these local officials for their leadership and their commitment to the people of Chesterfield. I am encouraged that the funding for this project was passed today in the U.S. House, and I will keep working to move this funding through the U.S. Senate and to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”

“We appreciate the House Appropriations Committee’s recognition and support of the Otterdale Road Drainage Improvement Project,” said Kevin Carroll, Motoaca District Supervisor, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “This funding will be used to support the overall project. With more than 2,200 vehicles a day traveling along Otterdale Road, there is a significant need to improve the drainage issues at the creek crossings during heavy rainstorms. During heavy rainfall events, this area floods easily, posing a risk to life and safety, trapping residents in their homes, impeding the flow of goods and services, and generally affecting the quality of life and structural integrity of existing infrastructure in the area.”

This project would both benefit all the residents of the surrounding area and allow for safe and unimpeded access for the thousands of vehicles that travel along the road each day, including those which use the road as a primary access point to nearby commercial areas.

The FY2022 appropriations package now goes to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

BACKGROUND

This year, the U.S. House of Representatives implemented a new effort as part of its annual appropriations process, which allowed for specific Community Project Funding requests — like the Otterdale Road drainage improvement project. Spanberger worked directly with community leaders in all ten counties of the Seventh District to gather community-focused requests for her submissions. Click here for a full list of her submissions.

The Community Project Funding process was created to ensure that Members of Congress, in concert with the communities they represent, may submit direct applications for federal funding to support locally planned projects as part of the yearly appropriations process. To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by local or state government entities or non-profit organizations and must be projects that would otherwise meet the qualifications to apply for federal grant funding. The purpose of Community Project Funding is to ensure direct, local engagement as part of the federal appropriations process. In line with this goal, funding applications must demonstrate significant local support for the projects. 

Spanberger has consistently worked to secure funding for Central Virginia projects that would create new jobs, make infrastructure improvements, and strengthen the local economy. Recently, she joined a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House in voting to pass the INVEST in America Act, which includes more than $22.7 million in federal resources for Central Virginia transportation and infrastructure projects that Spanberger successfully secured in the legislation.

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