News & Upcoming Events

Coming Up...
Scenic 340 Annual Benefit Concert
Sunday, September 7, 2008
2:00-5:30pm
Lazy River Lane Bentonville, VA

Featuring the Nighthawks, Flatbroke and singer songwriters Bill Baker and Mary Ann Redmond. Admission $15 in advance, $20 at the gate. Children under 12 free. Please no dogs. Bring your lawn chairs, a picnic and the whole family to enjoy an afternoon on the bank of the beautiful Shenandoah River!

For tickets and additional information email scenic340@embarqmail.com or call 540-622-0787. Directions from Bentonville - Follow the signs from Rt. 340 to Indian Hollow Rd. Go .9 miles to Rocky Hollow Rd. turn left. Go .2 miles to Lazy River Lane turn right and follow signs to parking.

News
Warren County Adopts CSS Policy
Warren County is the first in the Shenandoah Valley to adopt a Context Sensitive Solutions policy to guide planning for new roads and existing road repairs or improvements. Read the letter of confirmation

Mission
To preserve and protect the unique rural character, the natural environment, and the heritage of the Route 340 corridor from Front Royal to Waynesboro.

Background
A grass roots, non-profit citizens group, Scenic 340 was formed in 1999 to oppose a VDOT plan to widen Route 340 to four and five lanes from Front Royal to Luray. The group is dedicated to changing road-building policy at the state level. More

Goals
• Identify cultural and historical sites along the corridor.
• Protect scenic views and air quality along Route 340 and from Skyline Drive
• Identifying threatened or engaged species.
• Protect the fragile Karst geology and ground water quality.
• Foster economic development through heritage tourism and by protecting productive farmland.
• Work with local governments to advance land use planning tools.

Land Conservation
Scenic 340 works with landowners as well as local and state governments to preserve and protect rural lands, using two primary tools. Conservation easements and agricultural districts allow landowners to permanently protect their property, even if the land is sold or inherited. Both options are binding legal agreements with local governments that restrict new development.

Scenic 340 has helped bring over 1000 acres under permanent conservation easement in the Overall area, in both Warren and Page Counties. A new agricultural/forestal district has recently been established in south Warren County, as well as a new Rural Historic District which runs from south of Bentonville all the way to Luray. This is the largest Historic District in the state.

Learn more about conservation options for landowners from the Valley Conservation Council.


Context Sensitive Solutions(CSS)
Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) allows for flexible design of roadways to help sustain important community interests without compromising safety. It is promoted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Rather than an out-dated "bigger-is-better" approach to road building, CSS uses input from everyone who has a stake in how the road is built. This process can result in environmentally kinder roads and finished products that local citizens are proud of. Scenic 340 promotes CSS as a policy in Virginia through a range of initiatives. More details from Scenic 340
VDOT Memo on CSS
CSS Website

Route 340 Expansion Abandoned
Largely due to a shortage of funds, VDOT has presently abandoned the expansion of Route 340 from two lanes to four lanes. The first bridge scheduled for replacement is the Overall Bridge on the Page/Warren County line. Under pressure from Scenic 340 Project, and with input from the Department of Historic Resources,VDOT modified the design of this bridge to be more respectful to the newly listed Milford Civil War Battlefield at Overall and to the riverscape of the Shenandoah River. The Overall Bridge Project is in the initial stages of construction and Scenic 340 remains an active participant with VDOT. Scenic 340 Project also supports other safety and mobility improvements to Route 340. More

More information

Contact Scenic 340 rojroject

Fred Andreae, President
Judy Guy, Office Manager
Scenic340@embarqmail.com
P.O. Box 340
Bentonville, VA 22610
540-622-0787

THE CIVIL WAR BATTLES AT OVERALL:
A Military History of the Milford Battlefield
By John B. Rice, Jr.

Published by Scenic 340 Project, Inc funded in part by a grant from the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

Book is available for $10 by contacting Scenic 340 Project, Inc.

Documents

Read the Scenic 340 brochure on CSS.

Read Scenic 340's Editorial on Proposed Centex Development

Links

Valley Conservation Council

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation

Virginia Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration

Get Construction Updates on the Overall Bridge.

Land under conservation easement in Warren County