In Design

Route 29/Route 250 Bypass Interchange, Charlottesville

Improvements to the interchange and adjacent sections of Route 29 and Route 250 Bypass

Project at a Glance

Begin Date
Construction anticipated to begin in spring 2015

Cost
Estimated cost $11.15 million

Lengths and Limits
Route 29 intersection at Hydraulic Road south to Route 250 Bypass interchange, then west on Route 250 to Barracks Road interchange

Locality
Charlottesville

District
Culpeper

Contact
Mike Jacobs, Project Manager
540-829-7502

What is Proposed?

This project will improve the southbound entrance ramp from Route 29 onto the Route 250 Bypass by adding an additional lane on the ramp and an associated merge lane on Route 250 westbound to the Barracks Road exit. It also adds an additional southbound lane to Route 29 by widening in the median from just south of Hydraulic Road to the Route 250 Bypass interchange.

The improvements are intended to reduce congestion and improve safety and the movement of traffic from Route 29 onto the Route 250 Bypass as well as the flow of traffic continuing south on Route 29/Emmet Street into the city.

Also included in this project is the construction of new sidewalk between Morton Drive and Angus Road. The proposed sidewalk will be located in the U.S. 29 median, which provides the safest and quickest pedestrian route.

As part of the environmental review, a preliminary noise study has been performed and potential locations for noise barriers have been identified along the eastbound and westbound lanes of the U.S. 250 Bypass between U.S. 29 and Barracks Road. Additional noise analysis will occur following the public hearing and impacted property owners will be contacted to review and provide feedback on the proposed plans for noise barriers.

The project, known locally as the "Best Buy ramp project," is a priority for both the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Project History

Information collected during the project scoping supports the proposed improvements to address traffic volumes and crash history. From February 2006 to December 2008 there were 34 crashes on the Route 250 Bypass ramp and its immediate vicinity.

In 2010 Route 29 between Hydraulic Road and the Route 29/250 interchange carried an average of 52,000 vehicles per day; on the Route 250 Bypass from Route 29 west to the Charlottesville city limit an average of 38,000 vehicles used that road daily.

Development of the project began in 2007 by the city of Charlottesville under the Urban Construction Initiative with technical engineering work performed by a consultant engineering firm. In June 2011 VDOT assumed management of the project.

Project Schedule

June 20, 2012: Citizen information meeting

November 27, 2012: Design public hearing

December 7, 2012: Comment period ends

Summer 2013: Notice to proceed to obtain right or way and/or easement

Fall 2014: Advertisement for construction

Summer 2015: Construction begins

Project Costs

Total Cost: $11,150,000

Engineering of Roadway Plans: $1,750,000

Right of Way Acquisition and Utility Relocation: $500,000

Construction: $8,900,000 (includes noise barriers)

Cost is subject to change as the design is finalized.