National scenic designation sought for Va. route

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — State and local groups are working to have one of Virginia’s oldest roads designated as a national scenic byway.

Virginia Route 5 runs between Williamsburg and Richmond. It passes five historic James River plantations and portions of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. The route was designated as a Virginia Byway in 1975.

Scenic Virginia executive director Leighton Powell tells the Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1no39BZ ) that supporters of the designation want to offer counties along the route an option to maintain and market the road’s scenic value.

Scenic Virginia is one of 16 local and state groups that comprise the Route 5 Coalition.

Powell says the coalition isn’t against development. She says the coalition wants development that maintains the route’s rural character.

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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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