The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to endorse a set of recommendations for the Western Bypass of US 29.
A task force that included neighborhoods and schools affected by the construction, as well as the University of Virginia, submitted the proposal. Suggestions included a design speed of 50 milers per hour and additional funding for landscaping and bridge aesthetics.
“We need to make sure that our community is reasonably protected,” Supervisor Dennis S. Rooker, creater and chair of the Jack Jouett Bypass Committee, told Charlottesville Tomorrow.
The Board resolution will be forwarded to VDOT officials, who will be responsible for adding the recommendation to the request for proposals. In doing so, bidding firms vying for the chance to construct the bypass will be required to include the task force’s recommendations in their design plans.
“In a design-build contract, [bidders] have no incentive to add anything that’s not in the existing RFP because they’re trying to come in lower than everyone else,” Rooker is quoted as saying. “It puts every bidder on an even playing field if they all have to include it in the budget.”
The update will be shared with bidding firms on Tuesday.
For C-VILLE’s coverage of the western bypass, click here.