Kaine, Warner, Good submit bill for Wintergreen emergency exit road

WASHINGTON (CBS19 NEWS) -- Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner and Congressman Bob Good have introduced a bill concerning an emergency road for Wintergreen Resort.

On Thursday, they submitted the bicameral legislation supporting the construction of an emergency road for Wintergreen residents.

The resort in Nelson County currently has only one road in or out, which has led to concerns among the resort’s leadership and the people who live there, especially in the wake of highly destructive wildfires that have occurred in recent years.

If a wildfire or other disaster were to occur that blocked that road, people would have no way to get out and emergency crews would not be able to get in.

“It’s critical that first responders be able to quickly get where they need to go during an emergency, but Wintergreen residents currently only have one road for entry and exit, which poses a major challenge,” said Kaine. “That’s why we’re introducing this legislation, which would enhance public safety by taking the first step in building another road for Wintergreen residents.”

According to a release, the proposed road would be built near milepost 9.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, connecting Laurel Springs Drive to the parkway.

For years, the National Park Service has refused to grant permission for the road’s construction, which would require access to NPS land.

Current precedent shows that no private entity has ever been granted an easement in a national park.

The release says this legislation would clarify that the Secretary of the Interior has the authority to grant a permit to build the road, as long as alternative routes that do not cross federal land have been evaluated, and environmental reviews and an analysis of expected fire behavior during an emergency are completed.

The full text of the bill can be found here.