Old Avon is closed between Garrett Street and East South Street to continue grading, utility and stormwater activities for the new pedestrian plaza.
9th/Avon Street between Levy Avenue/Garrett Street and Market Street will be flagged and pedestrians temporarily stopped for less than ten minutes up to four times as old utility poles are removed and work begins on the last large retaining wall on Old Avon.
Monticello Road between Graves Street and Old Avon will be flagged as two retaining walls begin construction. Old Avon and East South Street will also be flagged to complete utility relocation.
Vehicular traffic will be flagged on Graves Street between 9th/Avon Street and Monticello Road to aid in construction of curbing and sidewalk.
Vehicular traffic at the bridge on Water Street will be flagged with both pedestrian and vehicular travel being intermittently stopped for up to 15 minute intervals for bridge demolition. The pedestrian path along Water Street will change as work progresses. The northern sidewalk on Water Street will remain closed between the pedestrian underpass and the bridge. Pedestrians will be directed to the southern sidewalk and will need to use the mid-block crosswalk to the northern sidewalk under the bridge to destinations to the west. The southern sidewalk would be closed under the bridge on Water Street. After demolition is completed on the pier and that section of the bridge, the northern sidewalk will be closed from the pedestrian underpass to underneath the bridge as well as the mid-block crosswalk under the bridge. Pedestrians will be directed to the southern sidewalk and will need to use the crosswalk to the northern sidewalk at the CAT Transit Station to destinations to the west. The pedestrian underpass to the Pavilion/Downtown Mall is open and remains available as an alternative route for pedestrians.
Water Street will soon be reduced to one lane in the westbound direction between 10th Street NE and 5th Street NE. Signs will be erected directing eastbound traffic to 2nd Street SE to Garrett Street to 9th/Avon Street to East Market Street to 10th Street NE to Water Street. This will create a work area to rebuild a retaining wall as well as start construction on the “knuckle” or enhanced pedestrian bridge between the Downtown Mall and 9th/Avon Street. More details will follow as the start date is confirmed.
To accommodate construction, 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 western sidewalk will be closed along 9th/Avon between East Market Street and Graves Street. The eastern sidewalk along 9th/Avon Street will be closed between Levy Avenue and Graves Street. Pedestrians will be directed to the sidewalk on the opposing side via the mid-block crossing at Graves Street across 9th/Avon Street. The mid-block crossing will be removed soon and the western sidewalk closed along 9th/Avon between Graves and the Garrett/Levy intersection so all pedestrians will be moved to the eastern sidewalk between East Market and Garrett/Levy.
The western crosswalk across Graves Street will be closed. The southern sidewalk along Old Avon Street is closed between Monticello Road and where it terminates near East South Street.
Temporary solar powered lights have been installed along the eastern sidewalk of 9th/Avon Street between Graves Street and East Market Street. An alternate pedestrian route to either Water Street or East Market Street is available via Garrett Street to 4th Street SE.
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.