Just when you thought the stretch between Hydraulic and Barracks roads couldn’t get any busier, a popular shortcut between the two roads closed July 5 for construction. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) closed the southbound lane of Georgetown Road, which sees a daily average of roughly 16,000 cars, for a pedestrian-friendly makeover that will add a 5′-wide sidewalk and marked crossings to the 0.8-mile road. The current walking path is occasionally obstructed by tree roots, and its width does not meet Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
While Georgetown may become more easily navigable for pedestrians, residents who use other forms of transportation will not benefit so greatly. VDOT spokesman Lou Hatter tells C-VILLE that bike lanes are not included in the construction plans.
Members of Bike Charlottesville, a local coalition of bicycle advocates and riders, expressed to C-VILLE their disappointment in the exclusion of bicycle lanes. Mac Lafferty noted that the lack of lanes on a “major connector” constitutes a “real hazard” for bicyclists. According to Lafferty, local cyclists should “keep vigil on new projects” to avoid a similar dearth of input on future construction.
While the southbound lane will reopen after August 25, construction teams will continue to work on traffic signals and grading through September 23. In the meantime, signs will direct southbound drivers towards Route 29 as a “detour.”