FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2022
TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Week of September 12-17, 2022 – Closure of pedestrian tunnel to/from the Downtown Mall via the Pavilion on Water Street. Monticello Road closed to through traffic between Graves Street and Old Avon. East South Street closed to through traffic with local traffic allowed westbound. Flagging on East South Street, Old Avon Street, Monticello Road, Graves Street and Water Street. Sidewalk Closure on 9th/Avon Street, Old Avon Street and Water Street. Crosswalk closure at Graves/9th/Avon Street and midblock crossing of Water Street under Belmont Bridge.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The existing pedestrian tunnel to/from the Downtown Mall via the Ting Pavilion on Water Street will be closed until late September 2022. The detour route will be along the southern sidewalk on Water Street to the existing crosswalk at the Downtown Transit Station. A ramp and a staircase are located west of the Downtown Transit Station which connects to the Downtown Mall. The existing pedestrian tunnel is being extended to the east and an underground stormwater detention system is being rebuilt on Water Street. Vehicular traffic at the bridge on Water Street will be flagged intermittently and pedestrian travel may be intermittently stopped for up to 15 minute intervals as construction vehicles enter and leave the work zone. The northern sidewalk east of the bridge on Water Street is also closed and pedestrians are being directed to the southern sidewalk at existing crosswalks.
Vehicular traffic will be flagged during the day on Old Avon, East South Street and Graves Street (between 9th/Avon Street and Monticello Road) to install new stormwater pipe and curb as well as accommodate bridge construction. East South Street will be closed to through traffic and will be one-way westbound to accommodate access to/from local businesses. The temporary parking lot entrance has moved from its location on East South Street to Old Avon while South Street is reconstructed. Flaggers will also detour vehicles on Old Avon through the public parking lot while two new sanitary sewer manholes are installed at the Old Avon/South Street intersection for several days.
Monticello Road will be closed to through traffic between Graves Street and Old Avon Street to build the permanent retaining wall and place precast units of the southern pedestrian underpass. Flagging of vehicular traffic may occur in this same section of Monticello Road.
To accommodate utility work, segments of sidewalk and crosswalks will also be closed as work progresses. No street will have both sides of the sidewalk closed at the same time. The eastern sidewalk along 9th/Avon Street will be closed between Levy Avenue and Graves Street with pedestrians directed to the western sidewalk along 9th/Avon Street. The western crosswalk across Graves Street will be closed with pedestrians directed to the other, open crosswalks at the mid-block crossing at Graves and the 9th/Avon/Levy/Garrett signalized intersection.
The southern sidewalk along Old Avon Street is closed between Monticello Road and where it terminates near East South Street.
Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the project area and access to private parcels will be accommodated.
Construction is being conducted by Caton Construction Group, Inc. for the City of Charlottesville’s Department of Public Works. The pedestrian pushbuttons at the 9th/Avon/Levy/Garrett intersection have been relocated to the large, wooden signal poles (NE, NW and SW corners) and an auxiliary wooden post with metal conduit (SE corner).
Work zone is posted at 25 MPH – please drive carefully with phones down.
Visit www.belmontbridge.org for Belmont Bridge Project Information.
Media Contact
Jeanette Janiczek
City of Charlottesville UCI Program Manager
434-970-3309
JANICZEK@charlottesville.gov