Utility work begins next week on Route 29 in Charlottesville

Relocation of underground utilities in the median of Route 29 (Emmet Street) will require the closure of crossovers between Hydraulic Road and the Route 29/Route 250 Bypass beginning next week. The work involves excavation to move a duct bank that carries multiple utility cables and is being done in advance of the Route 29/Route 250 interchange improvement project that will get under way early next year.

The first closure, from Sunday, Oct 5 to Friday, Oct. 10, will affect the median break serving the Comfort Inn and several other businesses. The following week, Oct. 12-17, the crossover at the Holiday Inn, just south of Hydraulic Road will be closed. The third closure, from Oct. 18-24, will affect the intersection of Emmet Street and Angus Road.

During the closures no left turns will be allowed and traffic will not be able to cross the median break to the opposite side of Emmet Street. During the closure at Angus Road the traffic signal will be adjusted to reflect the temporary change to the traffic patterns at the intersection. The work will be completed on Friday, Oct. 24.

Message boards with information about the closures will be placed on Route 29 this week. More information about the project is available on VDOT’s web site at www.Route29Solutions.org.