The extended lane closures at the Route 29-Rio Road grade-separated intersection project have been suspended due to an unforeseen conflict with a utility that has prevented pile-driving operations. For the remainder of this week the overnight closures will revert to the previous 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.schedule.
The utility conflict is expected to be cleared by Monday so the Virginia Department of Transportation has approved resumption of the extended closures at the intersection beginning Monday night. The closures will start at 8:30 p.m. and will end by 7 a.m. the next day. VDOT has also authorized the extended lane closures to continue through Nov. 24 so the contractor, Lane-Corman Joint Venture, can complete the installation of bridge pilings for the grade-separated intersection before the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday.
VDOT and Lane-Corman personnel will be on site each night to monitor the pile driving and the traffic conditions. If the extended lane closures create unreasonable traffic congestion the contractor will revert to the original 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. closures. During the nightly closures traffic on Rio Road will not be able to cross Route 29 or make left turns onto Route 29. Left turns from Route 29 onto Rio Road will also be prohibited. Through traffic traveling north and south on Route 29 will be maintained. Right turn lanes at the intersection will be closed intermittently depending on the location of each night’s work.
Business entrances on Route 29 north and south of the intersection, and on Rio Road east and west of Route 29, will remain open during the work. Signed detours will be in place to direct traffic around the work zone.
The contractor for the three design-build projects: Rio Road intersection, Route 29 widening and the Berkmar Drive extension has established 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 staff within one business day.
The Rio Road grade-separated intersection 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. To learn more, visit Route29Solutions.org. Information about upcoming lane closures and other traffic impacts, as well as news about the projects, is posted on the News and Traffic Alerts page.
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Chris Graham
