The latest developments in the Western Bypass planning process may be getting the lion’s share of the road-related ink lately, but what about other local road construction? Here’s an update on pending and ongoing city and state projects worth noting as we barrel toward summer.
Route 250 Bypass/McIntire interchange
The City of Charlottesville expects construction of the new intersection at the U.S. 250 Bypass and McIntire Road to be complete by July 2, 2015, two and a half years after the project went to bid. Priced at $20 million, the diamond-shaped, at-grade interchange will include sidewalks and bike lanes. Much of the initial work is taking place outside the current roadway, but drivers can expect occasional lane closures and lane shifts next spring.
McIntire Road extended/Meadowcreek Parkway
Key Construction Co. Inc., from Clarksville, Virginia, began construction on the new half-mile stretch of road connecting Melbourne Road with the intersection of McIntire and the 250 Bypass—a.k.a. the final piece of the Meadowcreek Parkway —in August 2011. A 10′-wide pedestrian trail will run parallel along its entire length, and the $3.4 million, two-lane road should be open to traffic by the end of the summer, linking McIntire to the existing portion of the Parkway.
Soil removal on I-6 at Afton
The Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) emergency project to remove unstable soil from Afton Mountain —delayed multiple times by heavy rains—wraps up Thursday, May 23. Through the end of the day today, expect intermittent closures starting at 8:30am for 30-45 minutes at a time. Construction should run no later than 8:30pm. The project will affect traffic from Exit 107 (Route 250/ Rockfish Gap Turnpike) at Crozet to Exit 96 (Route 624/5, Delphine Avenue) at Waynesboro.
I-64 interchange at Route 15
Next month, Corman Construction Inc. from Colonial Heights, Virginia will begin construction on a diverging diamond interchange on Route 15 at Zion Crossroads, Exit 136. VDOT says one lane of traffic will remain open on Route 15 throughout, but traffic patterns will go through a number of shifts. The state estimates the $6.9 million project will wrap up in April 2014.
McCormick Road bridge closure
On Monday, May 20, VDOT closed the McCormick Road bridge over Route 29 Business (Emmet Street) at the University of Virginia for construction. Corman Construction Inc. is replacing the aging bridge, and the demolition phase will require the closure of Emmet Street on the nights of May 21 and 22 from 9pm-6am each night. Another two-night closure will occur in mid-June, and VDOT expects the bridge to reopen in late July. In the meantime, car and pedestrian traffic will be rerouted. Check virginiadot.org for updates and detour maps.
Bypass update
Want to weigh in on the Western Bypass? VDOT is hosting a citizen information meeting on Thursday, May 23—that’s today—at 7:30pm at the Holiday Inn Charlottesville. The public can view and comment on three design concepts for the southern interchange of the bypass, or submit written comments to 29bypassinterchange@vdot.virginia.gov.
The long-discussed 250 Bypass and McIntire interchange is under construction, and VDOT expects to finish the project in July 2015.