Politics

Richmond Mayor Unveils Updated Capital Improvement Plan for Road and Utility Projects

The plan directs city funds toward infrastructure repairs and workforce training sites that will shape construction employment and utility access for residents in neighborhoods such as Church Hill and South Richmond.

By Richmond Policy Desk · Published 8 July 2026

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The Richmond mayor released the revised 2026 Capital Improvement Plan on July 7, directing $85 million in general obligation bonds toward street resurfacing, water main replacements and two new workforce training facilities operated by the Richmond Economic Development Authority.

City documents show the plan responds to a 12 percent rise in reported water main breaks recorded by the Department of Public Utilities between 2023 and 2025, along with federal requirements for lead service line removal that must begin in 2027.

Effects on Local Employment and Daily Services

Residents in the East End can expect construction crews to begin work on 14 miles of roadway by October, with contract specifications requiring that at least 40 percent of labor hours go to workers living inside city limits. The two training centers, one near Broad Street and one off Midlothian Turnpike, will offer certification programs in pipefitting and heavy equipment operation starting in January 2027.

Utility crews will replace 3,200 lead service lines in the first phase, according to the plan appendix, which lists targeted blocks in the 23000 and 24000 ranges of Hull Street and Nine Mile Road. The work will require temporary water shutoffs lasting up to 48 hours per address.

Budget Figures and Timeline

The city manager's office projects that the bond issuance will add roughly $6.40 to the average monthly property tax bill for a $250,000 home, based on amortization schedules included in the July 7 release. Construction is scheduled to finish by December 2028.

The plan next moves to the City Council for a required public hearing on August 11 and a final vote scheduled for September 8. If approved, the first bond series would be sold in October through the Virginia Resources Authority.

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