Beginning Monday morning, Aug, 26, drivers will encounter a significant traffic pattern change at the intersection of Route 743 (Hydraulic Road) and U.S. 29 (Seminole Trail) in the city of Charlottesville.
The left turns from eastbound and westbound Hydraulic Road onto U.S. 29 (Seminole Trail) will be eliminated.
Overnight Sunday, Aug. 25, crews will reconfigure the traffic signals to reflect the new traffic pattern.
During the work, drivers should use caution approaching the intersection, obey all traffic controls and stay alert for workers in and near the travel lanes.
By rush hour Monday morning, the new traffic pattern will be in place. In the new configuration, only through and right-turn movements will be allowed on Hydraulic Road at U.S. 29.
After the reconfiguration, eastbound Hydraulic Road drivers who wish to turn north onto U.S. 29 can instead continue through the intersection and use the new roundabout at Hillsdale Drive to perform a U-turn, then turn north on U.S. 29.
Hydraulic Road westbound drivers who wish to travel south can instead turn right onto Hillsdale Drive toward Seminole Court, turn left, and then left again to reach southbound U.S. 29. Alternatively, drivers can continue straight through the new roundabout and turn right onto U.S. 29 north, and then make a U-turn at the Seminole Court intersection to reach U.S. 29 south.
Drivers who use the Hydraulic Road and U.S. 29 intersection should allow for extra travel time while VDOT works to calibrate the signal timing.
The traffic pattern changes at Hydraulic Road and U.S. 29 will help relieve congestion along the U.S. 29 corridor. In addition to the traffic signal reconfiguration, VDOT will install a pedestrian refuge island, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps, street lighting at crosswalks and pedestrian signal poles, and crosswalks on the south leg of the intersection and the Hydraulic Road approaches to improve mobility and safety for pedestrians.
The reconfigured intersection is one of four transportation improvements combined into a single design-build project to improve congestion, safety and multi-modal access in the area.
Oher project elements include:
- the recently completed roundabout at Hydraulic Road and Hillsdale Drive,
- the improvements under way to manage access on westbound Hydraulic Road at Brandywine Drive and Michie Drive,
- and a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 29 with bus stops for future service near Zan Road.
The transportation improvements are funded for a combined $24 million through the SMART SCALE program.
Related stories
- Traffic alert: Motorists to detour around intersection of Hydraulic Road, Hillsdale Drive in C-ville (augustafreepress.com)
- VDOT holding information meeting on proposed Hydraulic Road roundabout (augustafreepress.com)
- VDOT set to begin Hydraulic Road-Hillsdale Drive roundabout work on July 8 (augustafreepress.com)
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
