Meeting scheduled on September 10 for Pantops road improvements

A lot of the transportation conversation in the Charlottesville area at the moment focuses on the ongoing work at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Hydraulic Road, but planning work continues for other areas with large amounts of traffic. 

On Wednesday, Albemarle Supervisor Bea LaPisto-Kirtley had an announcement about a key milestone for another project happening on September 10. This one would take place on U.S. 250, a road that has a 2022 traffic count of 50,000 vehicles a day. 

“There is a meeting by [the Virginia Department of Transportation] for the intersection of Pantops Corridor Improvements in Albemarle County,” LaPisto-Kirley said. “It’s a design public hearing so if you are located in the Pantops area or you work there, you may want to attend.” 

This will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1793 Richmond Road from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. VDOT is required to hold public hearings for projects that are working their way from successful application to a finished improvement.

In this case, VDOT is planning to rebuild the existing intersection of U.S. 250, Virginia Route 20, and Riverbend Drive. The latter is the eastern border of the Pantops Shopping Center and leads to South Pantops Boulevard which serves as a parallel road to U.S. 250. 

According to that traffic count, there are 8,600 vehicles that travel on Route 20 at this location. 

Here’s some of what is proposed:

• Route 20 and Riverbend Drive would both be adjusted to have a dedicated lane for both those turning right and driving through. There would be dual left-hand turn lane.
• There will be an additional right-turn lane from westbound U.S. 250 into the intersection.
• This project will also add a raised median on U.S. 250 between Route 20 and Hansen Road. 
• A new 300 foot long sidewalk would be built on the west side of Route 20.
• The traffic signals will be adjusted and signage will be installed. 

VDOT’s website on the project had details about the problems that the improvements seek to solve, including relieving congestion. There are safety issues as well. 

“Most recent crashes in the vicinity were caused by left-turning traffic from the stop sign-controlled side streets along U.S. 250,” reads the website. “The added raised median along U.S. 250 between Route 20 and Hansen Road will help maintain free flowing traffic while improving safety.”

Materials for the meeting are not yet available on the website. A public comment period will end on September 20, 2024. The purchase or acquisition of right of way will take place in 2025 and 2026 and the project will be advertised for bid in the spring of 2027. Construction would take place in fall of 2027 and be completed a year later. 

“Project schedule is subject to change,” the website notes.

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the August 22, 2024 edition of the newsletter. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.