Waynesboro and VDOT are moving forward with the planning process for a new road in Waynesboro.

The new road is part of the Southern Corridor project, which the city received complete funding for two years ago through VDOT's SMART SCALE program.

It's taken some time to get to the planning process, which VDOT says is normal for any major project. The city has had to review the potential effects of the new road on the environment to ensure there wouldn't be any negative impacts.

The road will connect Shenandoah Village Drive and South Delphine Avenue. It will cross Lyndhurst Road before following along the existing North Oak Lane. They will build a new road across Nature’s Crossing Technology Center near exit 96, before ending at South Delphine Avenue.

The city hopes building the new road will ease traffic on Interstate 64 at exits 94 and 96. They say another goal of the project is to make the city more connected for pedestrians.

"We hope we can get to the point where you can walk on the greenway from downtown, all the way to Target," said Luke Judway, director of planning for Wanyesboro. "This would be a big step in that."

The city also hopes the road will give more access to the industrial parts of Waynesboro, which could encourage more businesses to come to the area.

VDOT says that about 25 percent of the planning is finished at this time. They hope to get input from the community in the future about what may need to change.