Your guide to the Route 29 Solutions Projects For full details & continued engagement please visit www.route29solutions.org The Route 29 Solutions Package is a $230 million investment into the improvement of Albemarle County s infrastructure to address congestion in the Route 29 corridor. This investment will boost economic development and improve mobility in this critical transportation corridor through new road construction, existing roadway improvements, streamlined signalization, and funding for increased rail service. The selection of projects was the result of a process that included input from the Route 29 Solutions Advisory Panel, local governments, business and environmental groups. The $230 million in funding will support: Route 29/250 interchange improvements (Best Buy Ramp) Hillsdale Drive Extension Widening and improving Route 29 from Polo Grounds Road to Town Center Drive Adaptive signal technology on Route 29 Hillsdale Drive extension south to Holiday Drive Berkmar Drive extension north to Hollymead Town Center Route 29/Rio Road grade-separated intersection Study and preliminary engineering for improvements to the intersection of Hydraulic Road and Route 29 Study the extension of Hillsdale Drive south to Holiday Drive A second passenger train between Lynchburg and Washington, D.C. Provide Feedback / Get Engaged Email comments Route29Solutions@VDOT.Virginia.gov Join the Comments Forum Visit www.route29solutions.org and choose Share Your Views Attend/Watch Project Delivery Advisory Panel Meetings Visit www.route29solutions.org and choose Advisory Panel Email Comments to the Board of Supervisors bos@albemarle.org Share Your Thoughts on Engage Albemarle engage.albemarle.org Comment Directly to the Board during upcoming meetings www.albemarle.org/agenda for full details and continued engagement visit: www.route29solutions.org
Berkmar Drive Extension Purpose This new 2.3-mile long road will parallel Route 29 to the west and will offer an alternative for local traffic traveling north or south between Charlottesville and What is Proposed? This project will construct an extension of Route 1403 (Berkmar Drive) north from its current terminus at Route 1438 (Hilton Heights Road) to Route 1719 (Towncenter Drive). The 2.3-mile long road is proposed as a two-lane facility built on a four-lane right of way to allow for possible future expansion. The project includes a bridge spanning the South Fork Rivanna River to the west of the Route 29 bridges. Bike lanes, sidewalks and a paved multi-use path will be included in the project. The inclusion of these facilities will be an important addition to Albemarle County s existing network of similar facilities. Albemarle County s urban ring to the developed Hollymead area, the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport and the county s park at Chris Greene Lake. The bike lanes and multi-use path will provide links with existing facilities that will provide additional transportation options for those using the Route 29 corridor. The project is included in the Route 29 Solutions projects and is proposed to advance through construction as part of a design-build contract that also includes the widening of Route 29 between Route 643 (Polo Grounds Road) and Route 1719 (Towncenter Drive) and construction of a grade-separated intersection at Route 29 and Route 631 (Rio Road). Schedule Location Public Hearing: Held Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, 5-7 p.m., DoubleTree Hotel, 990 Hilton Heights Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901 Design Public Hearing: Held Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, 5-7 p.m., Albemarle High School cafeteria, 2775 Hydraulic Road Charlottesville, VA 22901 Design-Build contract award: February 2015 Construction begins: Late 2015 Construction complete: October 2017 Total Cost: $54.5 million Engineering of Roadway Plans: $2.4 million Right of Way Acquisition and Utility Relocation: $13.9 million Construction: $38.2 million These costs are preliminary planning estimates and subject to change as the project is finalized.
Route 29 Widening Purpose The purpose of this project is to widen Route 29 (Seminole Trail) from a four-lane divided highway to a six-lane divided highway from Route 643 (Polo Grounds Road) to Route 1719 (Towncenter Drive) in northern Albemarle County. The project will increase the What is Proposed? This project will widen Route 29 from four to six lanes by adding an additional lane on both sides of the highway between Route 643 (Polo Grounds Road) and Route 1719 (Towncenter Drive). The roadway will be designed with curb and gutter and sidewalks on both sides. The project will include a paved multi-use path on the east side of Route 29 from the southern end of the project to Hollymead Drive. A pedestrian crosswalk at that intersection will allow pedestrians and other users to cross Route 29 to a paved sidewalk on the west side that will extend north to Towncenter Drive. roadway capacity, which will reduce congestion on this heavily traveled section of Route 29. The project also includes safety improvements at previously identified locations. Improvement of this 1.8-mile-long section will complete the widening of Route 29 north to Route 649 (Airport Road) and will also include reconstruction of some sections of the existing highway to eliminate sightdistance deficiencies and improve overall safety. During construction, two lanes of traffic and all existing access points will be maintained in both directions. The project is included in the Route 29 Solutions projects package and is proposed to advance through construction as part of a design-build contract that also includes Berkmar Drive Extended and construction of a grade-separated intersection at Route 29 and Route 631 (Rio Road). Schedule Environmental document review/comments: Sept. 9-24, 2014 Design public hearing: Held Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, 5-7 p.m. at Albemarle High School cafeteria, 2775 Hydraulic Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901 Design-build contract award: February 2015 Construction begins: 2016 Construction complete: October 2017 Total cost: $46.8 million Engineering: $2.2 million Right of Way and Utility Relocation: $3.4 million Construction: $41.2 million These costs are preliminary planning estimates and subject to change as the project is finalized.
Rio Road Intersection Rendering of Route 29 / Rio Road grade-separated intersection Purpose Grade separation will move traffic more efficiently through one of the most congested intersections on the Route 29 corridor. Separating local and through traffic at this intersection, which has a history of high crash rates, will improve safety. What is Proposed? This project will separate traffic on Route 29 from traffic on Rio Road by replacing the current at-grade intersection with a grade-separated intersection. Rio Road will remain at roughly the current grade while Route 29 will be reconstructed to separate through traffic and local traffic exiting at Rio Road. Four through lanes (two each direction) will be constructed underneath Rio Road to carry traffic with destinations north or south of Rio Road. Local lanes will be built to the outside of the through lanes so traffic with local destinations can leave Route 29 onto Rio Road or access the businesses near the intersection. The project is included in the Route 29 Solutions projects and is proposed to advance through construction as part of a design-build contract that also includes the widening of Route 29 between Route 643 (Polo Grounds Road) and Route 1719 (Towncenter Drive) and construction of an 2.3 mile-long extension of Berkmar Drive from its current end at Route 1438 (Hilton Heights Road) north to Route 1719 (Towncenter Drive). Construction is scheduled to begin in 2015 and will be completed no later than Dec. 2, 2016. Construction that restricts movement on Rio Road through the intersection must be done between May 23 and Sept. 2, 2016. During that time, Rio Road will be closed to through traffic and left turns at the Route 29 intersection.the Rio Road intersection must be reopened to all traffic movements no later than Sept. 2, 2016. Four lanes in each direction on Route 29, and two lanes in each direction on Rio Road, will be maintained during construction except during the period between May 23 and Sept. 2, 2016. During that time traffic on Rio Road will be limited to right turns onto Route 29 and traffic will not be able to cross the intersection. On Route 29 two southbound lanes and three northbound lanes will be maintained between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. and right turns onto Rio Road will be allowed at all times. A temporary intersection at Route 29 and Berkmar Drive, controlled by a signal, will serve as a detour and allow traffic from Berkmar to turn right or left onto Route 29 and travel north or south to Rio Road and businesses along Route 29 north or south of Berkmar. That signal will also have preemption equipment that allows priority access for emergency vehicles.traffic from Route 29 north and south will be able to access Berkmar at the temporary intersection.
Route 29-Route 250 Interchange Improvements What is proposed? This project will improve the southbound entrance ramp from Route 29 onto the Route 250 Bypass by adding an additional lane on the ramp and an associated merge lane on Route 250 westbound to the Barracks Road exit. It also adds an additional southbound lane to Route 29 by widening in the median from just south of Hydraulic Road to the Route 250 Bypass interchange. Noise barriers will be constructed along the lanes of the U.S. 250 Bypass between U.S. 29 and Barracks Road to mitigate neighborhood impacts. A final design for the surface finish of the barriers was selected by the city and Albemarle County in early October. Also included in this project is the construction of new sidewalk between Morton Drive and Angus Road. The proposed sidewalk will be located in the U.S. 29 median, which provides the safest and quickest pedestrian route. The project, known locally as the "Best Buy ramp project," is a priority for both Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The improvements are intended to reduce congestion and improve safety and the movement of traffic from Route 29 onto the Route 250 Bypass, as well as the flow of traffic continuing south on Route 29 (Emmet Street) into the city. The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded an $11.1 million construction contract to Fielder s Choice Enterprises, of Charlottesville, at its January meeting. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2015. History Information collected during project scoping supports the proposed improvements to address traffic volumes and crash history. From February 2006 to December 2008 there were 34 crashes on the Route 250 Bypass ramp and its immediate vicinity. In 2010, Route 29 between Hydraulic Road and the Route 29/250 interchange carried an average of 52,000 vehicles per day. On the Route 250 Bypass from Route 29 west to the Charlottesville city limits, an average of 38,000 vehicles used that road daily. Development of the project began in 2007 by Charlottesville under the Urban Construction Initiative, with technical engineering work performed by a consultant engineering firm. In June 2011, VDOT assumed management of the project. Engineering of Roadway Plans: $2,509,436 Right of Way Acquisition and Utility Relocation: $336,669 Construction, including noise barriers: $14,303,865 Total Cost: $17,150,000 are subject to change as the design is finalized.
Schedule Environmental document review/comments: Sept. 9-24, 2014 Design Public Hearing: Held Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, 5-7 p.m. Albemarle High School cafeteria, 2775 Hydraulic Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901 Design-build contract award: February 2015 Construction begins: Late 2015 Construction complete: No later than Dec. 2, 2016 Total Cost: $84.3 million Engineering of Roadway Plans: $2.7 million Right of Way Acquisition and Utility Relocation: $4.2 million Construction: $77.4 million These costs are preliminary planning estimates and subject to change as the project is finalized.