The Route 29 Solutions Project includes eight highway projects to improve safety and increase mobility along the Route 29 corridor in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Lane, in a construction joint-venture with Corman Construction, Inc., completed three of the eight projects in this program.

Technical Details:

As part of this contract, Route 29 was widened between Polo Grounds Road and Towncenter Drive, Berkmar Drive was extended from Hilton Heights Road to Towncenter Drive, and a grade-separated intersection was constructed at Route 29 and Rio Road.

The widening project converted 1.8 miles of Route 29 from a 4-lane divided highway to a 6-lane divided highway by adding an additional lane on both sides of the roadway.

The Berkmar Drive Extension project extended Berkmar Drive north 2.3 miles from its current terminus at Hilton Heights Road to Towncenter Drive. The project included a bridge spanning the South Fork Rivanna River to the west of the Route 29 bridges.

Scope of work included but was not limited to:

• Over 120,000 LF of Fiber Optic Cable
• Over 144,000 LF of Conductor
• Over 3,900 SF of Sign Panels
• Overhead Sign Structures
• Almost 400 CY of Concrete Foundations
• Approximately 125 Luminaires, Associated Light Poles and Electrical services
• 5 Traffic Signal Intersections

Key Improvements:

The Rio Road Intersection project provided a grade separation to move traffic more efficiently through the intersection of Route 29 and Rio Road, one of the most congested intersections on the corridor. Four through-lanes, two in each direction, were constructed underneath Rio Road to carry Route 29 north and southbound. Local lanes on the outside of the through-lanes were constructed to allow for easy access and egress from Route 29 to Rio Road.

Benefits/Positive Aspects to Community:

Each of the three projects included construction of bike lanes and multi-use paths, providing increased transportation options for people using the corridor.