Meadow Creek Parkway (County portion)

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Meadow Creek 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 Meadow Creek Parkway in Albemarle County is one of three parts of the Meadow Creek Parkway project. Construction was scheduled to be completed on October 14, 2011,[1] but actually wrapped up one day early. [2]

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

This portion of the parkway is 1.3 miles long and runs from Melbourne Road to East Rio Road. It runs north around the Charlottesville High School athletic facilities and continue parallel with the railroad tracks. After crossing Meadow Creek, the road shifts to the east around the Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center {CATEC} and joins Rio Road just south of the school.

A nearby transportation irmpvoement was construction of a new bridge on East Rio Road As of July 29, 2010[3].

Shortly before the November 2011 election, Albemarle Supervisor Ken Boyd called for the county's portion of the road to be opened immediately. Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris said that would be premature. [4] On December 7, 2011, the Board voted 6-0 to direct VDOT to open the road. Shortly after the vote, VDOT announced they would prepare to open the road. [2]

Temporary opening in 2010

Boyd cited a precedent in his call to open the road to permanent traffic. On October 11, 2010, the closure of East Rio Road for six weeks was detoured by opening the county's portion to traffic[5]. 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[6]. 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. [7]

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[8]
  • September 21, 2004: Informal presentation to CATEC Board of Directors
  • December 2008: Commonwealth Transportation Board awards an $11.8 million construction contract to the Faulconer Construction Company[9]
  • February 2009: Construction starts
  • July 6 2009: County announces that 12% of the construction was completed[10].
  • October 2010: County's portion scheduled to open while East Rio Road intersection is built[11]. Originally scheduled to open on October 5, but postponed until later in the month.
  • October 14, 2011: VDOT anticipated completion of county portion.
  • November 2, 2011: Supervisor Boyd asks Board seek to pass resolution asking VDOT to open the road. [4] Board opts to defer decision until December 2011. [12]
  • December 7, 2011: Supervisors vote 6-0 to open road, and VDOT announces they will do so. [2]
  • Early January 2012: Road expected to be opened permanently. [13]

Map

Other components of the Meadow Creek 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. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Web. VDOT BEGINS FINAL PREPARATIONS TO OPEN MEADOW CREEK PARKWA, Lou Hatter, Virginia Department of Transportation, December 7, 2011, retrieved December 8, 2011.
  3. "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/>.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Web. Boyd pushes for immediate opening of Meadow Creek Parkway, Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, November 1, 2011, retrieved November 1, 2011.
  5. Web. Now you can try out the long-awaited Meadowcreek Parkway, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, retrieved October 12, 2010.
  6. Web. Can VDOT really open the Meadow Creek Parkway?, Peter Kleeman, September 19, 2010, retrieved October 12, 2010.
  7. E-mail. Lou Hatter, Virginia Department of Tramsportation. "meadowcreek parkway question." Message to Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow. Friday, February 10, 2011.
  8. 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>.
  9. Web. [http://www.virginiadot.org/VDOT/Projects/Culpeper/asset_upload_file309_38804.pdf WORK ON MEADOW CREEK PARKWAY TO BEGIN IN FEBRUARY Commonwealth Transportation Board approves $11.8 million project], Lou Hatter, Virginia Department of Transportation, retrieved December 8, 2011.
  10. VDOT: County’s portion of Meadowcreek Parkway on schedule, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, 6 Jul 2009.
  11. Web. Part of Meadowcreek Parkway opening temporarily, Rachana Dixit, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, August 22, 2010, retrieved October 4, 2010.
  12. Web. Albemarle holds off on parkway-opening resolution, Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, November 2, 2011, retrieved November 7, 2011.
  13. Web. City Council falls short of consenting to parkway opening, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, December 21, 2011, retrieved December 22, 2011.