The Commonwealth Transportation Board has approved University plans for a North Grounds Connector road, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. As the University continues to expand and traffic woes increase, many members of the University community said they welcome the connector's approval.
"We are very pleased that we've received the approval for the connector from the Commonwealth Transportation Board," University spokesperson Carol Wood said.
The North Grounds Connector will feed into Massie Road between the North Grounds Recreation Center and Darden, providing a link between that area and University Hall. The connector also will provide entry to a 350-foot access break onto the Route 29/250 bypass.
Drivers heading Eastbound on the access break will be permitted to exit onto the connector, while those leaving the University only will be allowed to turn right onto Route 29/250 eastbound. The eastern end of Massie Road will be blocked, denying motorists access to Emmet Street from there.
"From the University's viewpoint [the connector] should serve as a strong access road to the University's new arena that now is under construction, as well as the performing arts structure," Wood said.
Wood stressed that the road will serve the Charlottesville community, not just the University.
"The intent is that the road will help move event traffic forward smoothly and efficiently," Wood added. "Since it is a regional roadway, we look to the road to benefit the community as well -- it will probably go a long way to relieving congestion on Emmet Street."
This change in traffic flow was recommended by a University-commissioned traffic study performed by Gladding, Jackson, Kercher, Anglin, Lopez, Rinehart, Inc. The study found that traffic, especially during special events, becomes particularly clogged through Emmet Street and Ivy Road.
"On a daily basis we believe that it will improve traffic on the adjacent city streets by funneling some of the traffic that would have been on Ivy and Emmet Street to the connector if they're going to University facilities," said Mary Hughes, landscape architect to the University.
In conjunction with the study's recommendations, it is expected that the connector will handle nearly half of event traffic, routing the remaining traffic through both ends of Copeley Road out to Ivy Road and Emmet Street.
"The road is designed as to have two lanes, however it will be wide enough to be split into three lanes to accommodate event traffic," Hughes said.
The University intends to maintain the 35 mph connector in the beginning, ultimately relinquishing control to the Commonwealth.
The connector will be funded privately at a cost of $4 million as part of the University's $128 million dollar arena project. The new facility has been named John Paul Jones Arena and will replace University Hall by 2006-2007. It is projected that the connector will be completed by the fall of 2006, in conjunction with the completion of the arena complex.
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