Meadow Creek Parkway (County portion)

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Meadowcreek Parkway
Mcp-county.jpg

Project Underway

Project Overview

1. Improve traffic flow between Rio Road (Route 631) and Route 250
2. Provide more direct access to and from the Charlottesville downtown area
Cost $30,590,522 - County applying for VDOT Revenue Sharing in FY2009 to cover balance
Sponsor VDOT

Status Update

This is Albemarle County's portion of the project. A contract was awarded to Faulconer Construction Company, Inc. on December 18, 2008 by the Commonwealth Transportation Board for $11.8 million. Construction will begin in February 2009, with completion in the fall of 2011. Roadway to open in spring of 2012, pending completion of McIntire Road Extended and 250 Interchange.

VDOT Dashboard VDOT Dashboard Entry
Contact Greg Krystyniak, Project Manager, Location & Design Section, VDOT Culpeper District
Ambox notice.png This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

The portion of the Meadowcreek Parkway in Albemarle County is one of three parts of the Meadowcreek Parkway project. It is currently under construction, with a fixed completion date of October 14, 2011. [1]

Elements of the road were designed by Jones & Jones, a Seattle-based landscape architectural firm. Construction work is being performed by Faulconer Construction Company.

When complete, this portion of the parkway will be 1.3 miles long, running from Melbourne Road to East Rio Road. It will run north around the Charlottesville High School athletic facilities and continue parallel with the railroad tracks. After crossing Meadow Creek, the road will shift to the east around the Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center {CATEC} and join Rio Road just south of the school.

Traffic has already begin using a new bridge on East Rio Road As of July 29, 2010[2].

Temporary opening in 2010

On October 11, 2010, the closure of East Rio Road for six weeks was detoured by opening the county's portion to traffic[3]. Peter Kleeman, an opponent of the parkway, has argued that VDOT has no right to open the detour because the June 2008 ordinance allowing the parkway stated that none of the parkway could open until the entire project is complete[4]. However, Charlottesville city attorney Craig Brown told City Council was told at their meeting on October 4 that the ordinance did not specifically forbid a temporary opening[citation needed].

After the road was closed, the multi-use trail was made off-limits to bicycles. VDOT policy is for the public to be prohibited from entering construction projects. [5]

History

  • May 2001 - Jones and Jones submits report outlining final alignment from Melbourne Road to Rio Road
  • March 20, 2003 - The Virginia Department of Transportation held an open design public hearing
  • May 5, 2004 - Board of Supervisors adopts resolution of intent endorsing design[6]
  • September 21, 2004 - Informal presentation to CATEC Board of Directors
  • December 2007 - An $11.8 million bid for construction was awarded to the Faulconer Construction Company
  • February 2009 - Construction starts
  • October 2010: County's portion scheduled to open while East Rio Road intersection is built[7]. Originally scheduled to open on October 5, but postponed until later in the month.
  • October 14, 2011: VDOT anticipated completion of county portion.

Map

Construction

On July 6 2009, the county announced that 12% of the construction was completed[8].

Other components of the Meadowcreek Parkway

The larger parkway project includes two other phases, both in the city:

External Links

VDOT's Meadow Creek Parkway page

References

  1. E-mail. Lou Hatter, Virginia Department of Transportation. "MCP questions." Message to Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow. August 22, 2011.
  2. "Work on East Rio Road to Shift Traffic | Charlottesville Daily Progress." Charlottesville News, Sports, Business, Events and Jobs | Charlottesville Daily Progress. Web. 28 June 2010. <http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/work_on_east_rio_road_to_shift_traffic/57674/>.
  3. Web. Now you can try out the long-awaited Meadowcreek Parkway, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, retrieved October 12, 2010.
  4. Web. Can VDOT really open the Meadow Creek Parkway?, Peter Kleeman, September 19, 2010, retrieved October 12, 2010.
  5. E-mail. Lou Hatter, Virginia Department of Tramsportation. "meadowcreek parkway question." Message to Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow. Friday, February 10, 2011.
  6. Kelsey, Jack M. "Meadow Creek Parkway; CATEC Impacts." Letter to Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. 19 Apr. 2005. Albemarle County, Virginia - Official Web Site. Albemarle County. Web. 25 Nov. 2009. <http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/Forms_Center/Departments/Board_of_Supervisors/Forms/Agenda/2005files/20050504/Meadowcreekparkwayattache.pdf>.
  7. Web. Part of Meadowcreek Parkway opening temporarily, Rachana Dixit, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, August 22, 2010, retrieved October 4, 2010.
  8. VDOT: County’s portion of Meadowcreek Parkway on schedule, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, 6 Jul 2009.