Lynchburg cedes right-of-way to Liberty University

Lynchburg City Council has given up a long-held right-of-way across the Liberty University campus, at the school’s request.

The easement was originally secured to allow for the extension of Ericsson Drive, a short stub of a road that juts onto the main college campus near the LaHaye Ice Center.

The city was asked to drop those plans and return the property rights to the school.

LU, which has been working to create a more pedestrian-friendly campus, objected to the idea of having a major public road running across its property. Abolishing the right-of-way also benefits the school’s construction plans and gives it added space for expansion, administrators said.

Council granted their request Tuesday over the objections of planning staffers, who felt the city was losing a valuable opportunity to build a connection between Wards Road and U.S. 460.

Ericsson Drive currently runs from a U.S. 460 entrance into LU. Extension plans called for it to be lengthened to the other side of campus, where it would connect to Wards Road via vehicular tunnels LU intends to build.

If the city had followed through on those plans, those tunnels would have needed a turning lane, according to the recommendations of a traffic study commissioned by the school.

The difficulty, cost and time involved in such an expansion complicated council’s decision and helped convince several members to give up the project.

“I think this would be a great road to build. … I would love to do it. But frankly, it’s not going to happen,” said City Councilman Mike Gillette of Ward I.

“I believe LU is going to grow faster than we’re going to be able to appropriate funds for this,” Councilman Turner Perrow of Ward IV said. “I don’t feel we can hold the university hostage for that period of time.”

Council agreed to vacate the right-of-way by a vote of 6-1. Dissenting was Councilman Ceasor Johnson of Ward II, who said he hated to see the city walk away from a project that could reduce congestion in a crowded area of the city.

“I think we’re shooting ourselves in the foot,” he said.

Given council’s decision, the city also plans to give up ownership of the existing portion of Ericsson Drive. A motion to give the road to LU will be brought to council at a future meeting.

LU is considering using the right-of-way property to build a new academic building. Lee Beaumont, director of auxiliary services, said no concrete plans have been made, but the spot offers a “very promising building site.”

He said LU was pleased with council’s decision and praised officials for looking at “all the angles” when considering the request.

“I think it made a lot of sense for them to give (the right-of-way) back to us so we can move forward and have a contiguous campus,” he said. “… I think it’s going to be used wisely by the school.”