In Design
Route 29/Route 250 Interchange, Charlottesville |
| Improvements to the interchange and adjacent sections of Route 29 and Route 250 Bypass |
Project at a Glance
$4.7 million current allocation in Six-Year Improvement Program
Lengths and Limits
Route 29 intersection at Hydraulic Road south to Route 250 Bypass interchange, then west on Route 250 to Barracks Road interchange
Locality
Charlottesville
District
Culpeper
Contact
Greg Krystyniak
540-829-7785
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 in the median from just south of Hydraulic Road to the Route 250 Bypass interchange.
The improvements are intended to reduce congestion, 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 project, known locally as the "Best Buy ramp project," is a priority for both the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
Project History
Information collected during the 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 limit an average of 38,000 vehicles used that road daily.
Development of the project began in 2007 by the city of 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.
Project Status
VDOT is reviewing the project scope and the work done to date and has completed the collection of new updated traffic count data. Ongoing work includes analysis and modeling of the traffic counts and other data, development of the Interchange Modification Report, field survey work, evaluation of potential environmental impacts and updating the initial cost estimate for the project.
The project development process will include an extensive analysis of traffic data to ensure that the proposed design improves both traffic operations and safety.
Preliminary survey work is under way to determine the potential impacts of the project on residential and commercial properties adjacent to Route 29 and Route 250. It is likely that the addition of the merge lane onto Route 250 will require removal of trees and vegetative screening adjoining the roadway. Utility relocations and temporary construction easements will likely affect some properties abutting the right of way.
If easements or right of way are needed a design public hearing will be required. If a public hearing is not required the advertisement date may be advanced.
Project Schedule
This project is in the early stage of the design process. This tentative schedule is subject to revision as the preliminary engineering phase continues and the project's design develops.
March 2012: Begin public involvement process
July 2012: 30 percent engineering plans completed
November 2012: Design public hearing
August 2013: Notice to proceed to obtain right or way and/or easement
November 2014: Advertisement for construction
Project Costs
The project’s preliminary estimated cost is $4.7 million, with $4.2 million currently allocated to the project in the Six-Year Improvement Program.
That funding includes $2 million through VDOT's revenue-sharing program that is split 50-50 between state funds and a local match. The remaining $2.2 million is state funding.
The project's cost is subject to change as the design is developed.
