Henrico County has begun construction on the Magellan Parkway extension project, a long-awaited roadway that connects communities in the Fairfield District to ongoing developments related to the Best Products Reimagined project.
Cari Tretina, executive director of the county’s economic development authority, described the project as the first in a series of tangible commitments towards the county’s goal of driving development in the area during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday.
“We’re thrilled to kick off these first two road projects, because they are the first physical milestones that paved the way for the long term growth, innovation and opportunity,” Tretina said.“
The extension — which will stretch about three-quarters of a mile, from Magellan Parkway and Englewood Farms Drive to Park Central Drive and Scott Road — is expected to be completed in 2028. The new roadway, which will cross over Interstate 95, will replace a two-lane segment of Scott Road with a divided four-lane path with raised medians, curb and gutter improvements.
Henrico Public Works Director Terrell Hughes told VPM News that, as part of the project, new water and sewer connections will be installed in part of the county that is primarily served by well water.
The planned development area includes an intersection at Scott and Level Green roads and a roundabout for connections with the future St. Charles Road. County officials also previewed plans for the Garden City Pedestrian Bridge, a crossing over I-95 at the site of the former Scott Road bridge.
The bridge will be designed with access for bicycles and pedestrians only and will become part of the Garden City Connector Trail, which connects to the Fall Line Trail at Athens Avenue and Cleveland Street.
Henrico’s board of supervisors signed off on a contract for the approximately $17 million project in October 2025. Hughes told VPM News a majority of the funding for the roadway the extension project is primarily funded by as much as $20 million from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority.
Fairfield Supervisor Roscoe Cooper, the board’s chair, described the planned trail roadway expansion as a key link between the Fall Line Trail and the Best Products property — which was previously at the center of GreenCity, an arena-anchored development that collapsed last year.
“The Magellan Parkway project is about expanding access and opportunity. It’s about economic development. It’s about revitalization,” Cooper said. “ It’s about quality of life with housing, employment, restaurants and other destination commercial uses.”
Cooper added that the project builds on the momentum of other development projects in the area near the Scott Road Outdoor Athletic Complex, where the groundbreaking took place.
To the north, Markel|Eagle Partners has begun site work for Level Green, a nearly 900-unit residential development that was initially meant to be part of GreenCity, and was greenlit despite the larger arena project falling through.
Ricky Core, president of Markel|Eagle Partners, said new homes could be ready in 2027.
“This groundbreaking signifies the first step into what the future of this area within Henrico County will be,” Core said. “With this road infrastructure, we will open the gateway to a wonderful residential community we will call Level Green.”
And to the south, the Henrico Economic Development Authority is reviewing proposals for the redevelopment of the Best Products property. In an interview with VPM News in February, Tretina signaled that more announcements about the future of the Best Products site could be coming soon.
