The Virginia Department of Transportation is soliciting public input on what would be a developer-requested fourth leg of the intersection where South Church Street meets the Route 10 Bypass, turning the existing three-way crossing into a four-way one.

The change would allow Church Street motorists to continue straight into a prospective 14-acre commercial development dubbed “Cypress Crossing” rather than having to turn left or right on Route 10, also known as Benns Church Boulevard. Route 10 motorists would also be able to turn left or right into either the development or downtown Smithfield 

The development would be adjacent to the former Smithfield Rite Aid.

The stretch of Route 10 that allows motorists to bypass downtown Smithfield, according to VDOT, was constructed as a limited access highway, meaning it was designed for through traffic. Any break in the traffic flow to accommodate a new intersection must be approved by Virginia’s 17-member Commonwealth Transportation Board. According to a public notice published in the Feb. 26 print edition of The Smithfield Times, this proposed break in the traffic flow comes at the request of developer Hutton Smithfield VA ST LLC.

The company is a subsidiary of a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based company known just as Hutton. The subsidiary was formed Nov. 1, according to State Corporation Commission filings.

Smithfield’s Town Council passed a November resolution in support of the extended intersection, a required first step toward CTB approval. That resolution stated Hutton has “provided a global traffic study to support the request to provide primary access at the signalized intersection of Benns Church Boulevard and S. Church Street” with “a second access located at the unsignalized intersection of Benns Church Boulevard and Cypress Crossing/Gumwood Drive intersection, with proposed modifications to restrict side street left-turn movements.”

The resolution further asserts Hutton has “proposed a conceptual plan of development for the property depicting a signalized access and associated intersection improvements and proposed right-of-way acquisition along U.S. Route 10 Bypass to support an exclusive right-turn lane and direct access to the public right-of-way to support the limited access break, all of which would be funded exclusively by Hutton Smithfield VA ST, LLC.” These improvements are “depicted on the site concept plan entitled ‘Cypress Crossing’ prepared by Timmons Group, and dated March 13, 2024,” the resolution states.

The land is owned by the Howard W. Gwaltney Family Trust and is already zoned commercial. As of November, the town had received a preliminary plat showing the 14 acres subdivided into six parcels.

The only site plan on file as of last fall was for a “Modwash” car wash. Hutton describes itself on its website as the parent company of Modwash, billed as “the fastest-growing car wash company in the U.S.” To date, Modwash has Virginia locations in Danville, Lynchburg and Tappahannock and its website lists a Smithfield location as “coming soon.”

According to the public notice, those wishing to comment can send their written remarks by March 13 to joshua.Norris@VDOT.Virginia.gov referencing “Route 10 Bypass Limited Access Control Change” in the subject line, or by mail to Joshua Norris, Virginia Department of Transportation, 23116 Meherrin Road, Courtland, VA 23837.