VDOT crews are set to begin working on constructing directional medians at the intersection of Brandywine Drive and Hydraulic Road and Michie Drive and Hydraulic Road in Albemarle County.
During this work, the Hydraulic Road westbound right lane will be closed between U.S. 250 and Michie Drive. Drivers should stay alert for workers near the travel lanes, reduce speed through the work zone and obey all traffic controls.
The directional medians will eliminate left turns coming out of both Michie Drive and Brandywine Drive onto Hydraulic Road. The right lane of westbound Hydraulic Road between U.S. 250 and Michie Drive will be converted from a through lane to a dedicated right-turn lane for access to Brandywine Drive and Michie Drive. Access will be limited to right-in, right-out and left-in only at the intersection.
Drivers who want to make a left turn at Brandywine Drive or Michie Drive will instead turn right onto Hydraulic Road and then use the new roundabout at Hillsdale Drive to perform a U-turn.
Details on the project
The existing shared-use path along westbound U.S. 250 will be extended along Hydraulic Road to Brandywine Drive, and crosswalks with ADA ramps will also be installed at the Brandywine Drive and Michie Drive intersections.
These access management improvements, together with the roundabout at Hillsdale Drive are two elements of a broader project that will also include:
- a signalized pedestrian crossing and reconfigured traffic movements at the Hydraulic Road and U.S. 29 intersection.
- 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 process.
For more information about the project elements, visit Hydraulic Road and U.S. 29 transportation improvements.