Berkmar Drive Extended

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Berkmar Drive Extended

Completed

Project Overview

Protect and enhance capacity of Rt. 29 North and provide a parallel alternate multimodal route for local traffic
Cost $54 million
Location Albemarle County
Sponsor Albemarle County
Next meeting Location hearing September 18, 2014 at Doubletree Hotel

Status Update

Fully-funded by the Commonwealth Transportation Board

Website http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/route_29_solutions.asp
VDOT Dashboard 106137
Contact Lou Hatter, VDOT spokesman

Berkmar Drive Extended is $54.4 million 2.3 mile long secondary road that is fully-funded by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. [1] It is part of the Route 29 Solutions package. The project was completed by June 30, 2017. [2]



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Background

The road was called for in the Places29 Master Plan and was a northward extension of Berkmar Drive over the South Fork of the Rivanna River to Town Center Drive. The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a contract to the Lane / Corman Joint Venture in February 2015. A notice to proceed was granted in March 2015. [3]

The concept is to build a parallel road to U.S. 29 in order to provide more options to local traffic. It was built at the same time as the widening and the Rio Road interchange.


Funding history

The project remained a concept and was listed for years in the MPO Policy Board's Transportation Improvement Program as an illustrative transportation project. That meant funding from the state or federal government was not likely for the foreseeable future. The project was expected to be built with contributions from the private sector. [4].

However, the project received new life when former VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet recommended spending over a quarter of the $200 million in funds set aside for the Western Bypass. The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved $54 million in funding for the project at its meeting on June 18. [5] [6]

A hearing to gather public input on a location was held on September 18, 2014 at the Doubletree Hotel. [7] Some community members are calling for the Berkmar extension to be somehow tied into Ashwood Boulevard to create more of an urban grid. [8]

Results

Following its opening, the roadway quickly attracted vehicles. Joel DeNunzio reported to the Board of Supervisors in October 2017 that over 5,000 vehicles a day were using it. [9]

Rio Mills Bridge

The Albemarle Board of Supervisors voted in July 2019 to to bridge over the Rivanna the Rio Mills Bridge. This is to honor the many African-American communities that had existed in the area following Emancipation. [10]

References

  1. Web. Western Bypass funding eliminated; CTB supports other U.S. 29 projects, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, June 18, 2014, retrieved June 19, 2014.
  2. Web. VDOT: Berkmar Bridge Project in Albemarle Co. Ahead of Schedule, Spencer Burke, News Article, WVIR NBC 29, April 28, 2017, retrieved April 29, 2017.
  3. Web. [http://www.tjpdc.org//agendas_and_minutes/mpoPoli/age_mpoPoli_15_03_25.asp Charlottesville- Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Area Transportation Projects Project Status Matrix], Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, retrieved March 25, 2015.
  4. FY09-12 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. Rep. Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization. Web. 19 Oct. 2009. <http://www.tjpdc.org/pdf/TIP/FINAL_%20FY09%20TIP.pdf>
  5. Web. Recommendations unveiled for U.S. 29 congestion relief, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, May 8, 2014, retrieved May 19, 2014.
  6. Web. VDOT sets aggressive deadlines for Route 29 projects, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, July 25, 2014, retrieved July 27, 2014.
  7. Web. Public hearing on Berkmar Drive extension set for Sept. 18, Daily Progress Staff Reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, August 22, 2014, retrieved August 27, 2014.
  8. Web. Boyd walks out of meeting in protest, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, August 14, 2014, retrieved August 27, 2014.
  9. Web. VDOT: Fewer crashes, faster travel times after U.S. 29 projects, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, October 6, 2017, retrieved October 9, 2017.
  10. Web. 29 projects added to county's transportation priorities, News Staff, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, July 3, 2019, retrieved July 14, 2019.

External links

Berkmar Drive Extended page on Route 29 Solutions webpage