Old Avon is closed between Garrett Street and East South Street to continue utility work and begin construction of a retaining wall for the new pedestrian plaza.
Old Avon, East South Street, Graves Street and Monticello Road (between Old Avon and Graves Street) will be flagged as utility relocation continues, pedestrian lighting is installed and retaining wall construction begins.
Vehicular traffic at the bridge on Water Street will be flagged with both pedestrian and vehicular travel being intermittently stopped for vehicles entering/exit the work area. Water Street has been reduced to one lane in the westbound direction between 10th Street NE and 4th Street SE. Detour signs direct eastbound traffic to 2nd Street SE to Garrett Street to 9th/Avon Street to East Market Street to 10th Street NE to Water Street. On-street parking spaces are available on both sides of Water Street while Water Street is one-wayed (please park with vehicle pointed in the same, westbound direction).
The sidewalk detour on Water Street will change as needed to allow work on either side of the street. The northern sidewalk on Water Street will remain closed between the pedestrian underpass and the bridge. Pedestrians will be directed to the southern sidewalk (east of the bridge) and either need to use the mid-block crosswalk or the western crosswalk at the Transit Center to the northern sidewalk to destinations to the west. The eastern crosswalk at the Transit Center will be closed. The pedestrian underpass to the Pavilion/Downtown Mall is open and remains available as an alternative route for pedestrians.
To complete the conduit for the pedestrian lighting, pedestrian travel will be intermittently stopped on the eastern sidewalk along 9th/Avon Street between Levy Avenue and Graves Street. This will allow for equipment to be moved and the pedestrian travel path adjusted. The walkway width will be reduced from the current 10’ with an ADA accessible barrier.
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 is closed along 9th/Avon between East Market Street and Levy Avenue/Garrett Street. The pedestrian ramp south of the Pavilion leading to 9th/Avon Street is closed so pedestrians should use 7th Street NE or another adjacent side street to reach East Market Street and 9th/Avon Street. The northern sidewalk along Garrett Street will be closed between the entrance to 310 Avon Street and Old Avon Street with pedestrians directed to the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. The crosswalks across Old Avon, Garrett Street and the northern crosswalk across 9th/Avon will be closed at the 9th/Avon/Garrett/Levy/Old Avon intersection with pedestrians directed to the crosswalks across the other legs of the intersection. The southern sidewalk along Old Avon Street is closed between Monticello Road and where it terminates near East South Street.
UPCOMING – Girders being erected over railroad next week with traffic impacts for 3 short durations as each girder is lifted into place. Traffic will be stopped on 9th/Avon, Water Street and Old Avon for up to 3 – 15 minute intervals. More details will be included in next week’s traffic alert.
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.