VDOT News - Culpeper

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Construction of the Berkmar Drive bridge over the South Fork Rivanna River will require mid-day closures of Rio Mills Road while deck beams are set over the roadway. During the operation the road will be closed from the Route 29 intersection west to Millers Cottage Lane. The residential properties and businesses along the north end of Rio Mills Road will still be accessible from Earlysville Road.

The closure schedule is subject to change based on forecast weather conditions, including high winds. Each road closure will begin at 10 a.m. and may be lifted earlier than the time listed if the operation is completed more quickly than expected. Road closures are scheduled as follows:

• Wednesday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The bridge over the South Fork Rivanna River, which will also span Rio Mills Road, will be 716 feet long and about 80 feet above the river. It will have two travel lanes, sidewalks and bike lanes and a paved multi-use path adjacent to the roadway. The 2.2-mile-long project will extend Berkmar Drive north from Hilton Heights Road to Towncenter Drive at Hollymead.

The Berkmar Drive Extension project is one of eight Route 29 Solutions highway projects to improve safety and increase mobility along the Route 29 corridor in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Information about upcoming lane closures and other traffic impacts, as well as news about the projects, is posted on the Route 29 Solutions web site on the News and Traffic Alerts page. 

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Note to editors and reporters: The contractor for the three design-build projects: Rio Road intersection, Route 29 widening and the Berkmar Drive extension has a toll-free telephone number for residents to call regarding questions or issues related to those projects. Calls to the number, 844-220-5540, will be returned by Lane-Corman Joint Venture staff within one business day.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.