Fredericksburg

One of the anchor projects of the Celebrate Virginia development alongside the proposed Rappahannock Parkway tollroad - the National Slavery Museum - has filed for bankruptcy, and a letter has emerged indicating high level local opposition to the project. A National Slavery Museum on a prime 38 acres led by former Virginia Governor and mayor of the capital Richmond Douglas Wilder was announced amid fanfare ten years ago.

A local critic tells us the Rappahannock Parkway is a "scam" for the benefit of the area's largest developers, the Silver Companies. He says the traffic out to the southwest of Fredericksburg doesn't warrant such an expensive project, and that without the political patronage purchased by the Silver Companies the project would never be advancing as it is.

The George Washington Toll Road Authority (GWTRA) is making progress in developing the Rappahannock Parkway, its first toll project in Fredericksburg VA, on the southwest fringe of the Washington DC metro area.

Lloyd Robinson director of transportation at the Fredericksburg VA metro plan organization (FAMPO) says he's hopeful they can put together the permits and financing for a 6km (3.5 mile) long spur tollroad off I-95 just south of the Rappahannock River. The proposed pike is designed to:
- provide direct connections to a major resort and retailing complex called Celebrate Virginia being developed by the Silver Companies, and