GOOCHLAND COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Goochland County is one step closer to having its first new emergency response district in the county in over 60 years. The board of supervisors awarded a $9.45 million contract to town of Ashland-based Gulf Seaboard General Contractor for the construction of a new fire station in Sandy Hook at a March 3 meeting. “This is huge for our Fire-Rescue department, the first additional fire station and district added since 1962," said Chief Eddie Ferguson in part in a release. (Photo: Goochland County)(Photo: Goochland County) County leaders said the construction of Fire Station 8 will help expand services to include full-scale fire and EMS delivery to address increasing needs in the area by improving crews' response times and better supporting firefighters and residents. The 15,975-square-foot facility, located at the corner of Whitehall and Dogtown Roads, will include three apparatus bays. Gulf Seaboard was selected among five qualified construction firms, which were then invited to submit sealed bids. The Ashland contractor was the lowest "responsive and responsible bidder" in the process. Crews began work on the fire station last fall with the demolition of existing buildings. Construction of the station is funded through a public safety bond referendum approved in 2021, the county said. Construction work on the site is slated for the coming weeks. Goochland will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on April 7 at 1 p.m., with a rain date of April 14 at 4 p.m., at 3535 Whitehall Road. ...read more read less