HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Drivers across Henrico County will see lower speed limits on 54 sections of county-maintained roads as officials move to address road safety concerns and make speed regulations more consistent with surrounding neighborhoods and roadway conditions.

The Department of Public Works is implementing the changes following a comprehensive speed study that examined roadway design, surrounding land use, and the safety needs of motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.

The reductions range from 5 to 20 mph, depending on the road. Most affected sections currently have speed limits of 35 or 45 mph, with some dropping to 25 mph.

Public Works Director Terrell Hughes said the changes are intended to improve safety while accounting for how individual roads are used.

Residential roads with narrow lanes, frequent driveways, and pedestrian activity will generally have speed limits reduced to 25 mph. Roads serving local traffic but accommodating pedestrians and cyclists will generally move to 30 mph.

Other reductions to 35 mph target roads where lower speeds could reduce crash risks, including run-off-road accidents on rural routes with limited shoulders. One particularly narrow road section with limited shoulders will have its speed limit reduced to 45 mph.

Changes will roll out over the next year

The county expects to implement the adjustments in phases over the next six months to a year, with the first changes anticipated in late November.

When a new speed limit takes effect, crews will install updated signs accompanied by orange flags and a “New Regulation” notice for at least 14 days.

Hughes said enforcement of the revised limits will not begin until 30 days after implementation, giving motorists time to become familiar with the changes.

The county will also update a dedicated webpage with implementation dates as individual roadways are adjusted.

Which roads will be affected?

The changes cover roads in all five magisterial districts, with several sections crossing district boundaries.

**35 mph to 25 mph**

– **Brookland:** Bethlehem Road, Hungary Spring Road, Innesbrook Road, Lexington Farm Drive, Lucas Road and Old Route 33.
– **Fairfield:** Byrdhill Road and Oakleys Lane.
– **Three Chopt:** Old Sadler Road, Sadler Road and Riverdale Avenue.
– **Tuckahoe:** Sleepy Hollow Road and Raintree Drive.
– **Varina:** Bickerstaff Road, East Richmond Road, Eubank Road, East Washington Street, Gay Avenue, Mill Road, Old Memorial Drive, Old Oakland Road, Old Williamsburg Road, Wilton Road and Whiteside Road.

Old Williamsburg Road will have different reductions depending on location: from 35 to 25 mph west of Interstate 295 and from 45 to 25 mph east of I-295.

**35 mph to 30 mph**

– **Brookland:** Falmouth Road, Hermitage Road, Olde West Drive and West End Drive.
– **Fairfield:** Dill Road, Harvie Road, Lakeside Avenue and Sandy Lane.
– **Three Chopt:** Dominion Club Drive, Old Wyndham Drive and Wyndham Lake Drive.
– **Tuckahoe:** Derbyshire Road, Forest Avenue, North Ridge Road, Ridge Road and Three Chopt Road east of Forest Avenue.
– **Varina:** Bickerstaff Road, Millers Lane and Oakland Road.

**45 mph to 35 mph**

– **Brookland:** Hungary Road.
– **Fairfield:** Wilkinson Road.
– **Fairfield/Varina:** Harvie Road east of Laburnum Avenue.
– **Three Chopt:** Shady Grove Road.
– **Three Chopt/Brookland:** Nuckols Road, excluding the limited-access section at the I-295 interchange.
– **Three Chopt/Tuckahoe:** North Parham Road, Pump Road and Three Chopt Road west of Forest Avenue.
– **Varina:** Osborne Turnpike.

**55 mph to 45 mph**

– **Varina:** Portugee Road west of Memorial Drive.

What motorists should know

The reductions are intended to bring driving speeds in line with road conditions and the surrounding communities. However, the changes will also require motorists to adjust to new limits along familiar routes.

The phased implementation and advance signage are intended to give drivers notice before enforcement begins.

While the county has outlined the safety considerations behind the changes, the announcement does not include road-by-road crash statistics, the number of pedestrian or cyclist incidents, or projected reductions in crashes. Those details would help residents better understand why individual roads were selected and how the county will measure the initiative’s effectiveness.

The success of the changes will ultimately depend not only on lower posted limits but also on driver compliance and whether the adjustments lead to measurable improvements in road safety.

Henrico residents can follow the rollout and check implementation dates through the county’s Department of Public Works speed limit changes webpage.