Re: U.S. 29 Madison Heights Bypass Open for Traffic


Scott M. Kozel wrote:
> "Andrew Farina" <farine11@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > Scott M. Kozel wrote:
> >
> > > 'For years, local economic development planners have contended that an
> > > interruption-free U.S. 29 is crucial to making the Lynchburg area
> > > attractive to new businesses.'
> > >
> > > 'State Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, said that he would continue to
> > > press for construction of a U.S. 29 bypass around Charlottesville, now
> > > the road's primary bottleneck.'
> >
> > But . . . aren't there other parts of Virginia's US 29 which are not
> > freeway or expressway? Aren't these sections also bottlenecks?
>
> Not really. Much of the US-29 rural sections are adequate for the
> traffic volumes, and the section just north of Charlottesville is the
> main bottleneck. The section right at Gainesville is a minor
> bottleneck, but there is a project planned to upgrade that section in
> the near future.
>
> Today, 82 miles of the 204-mile US-29 section between N.C. and I-66 at
> Gainesville VA, is already on limited access right-of-way, and these are
> the 15 town and city bypasses on the corridor.
>
> A southern extension of the Lynchburg/Madison Heights Bypass is in the
> planning stages.
>
> > > 'The problem is particularly crucial to Lynchburg and Danville, both of
> > > which lack an interstate highway.'
> >
> > Really, in my opinion, an Interstate Highway is not a magic road which
> > brings businesses. I think the majority of Americans are smart enough
> > to realize that any limited access freeway built to high standards
> > would be just as efficient (though I do support an Interstate along
> > this corridor).
>
> The original Interstate system served 90% of the cities with 50,000
> population or more, and Lynchburg was one of the ones that was omitted.
>
> A southerly route for I-64 was considered in the late 1950s, that would
> have followed US-360, US-460 and US-220, on a route connecting Richmond,
> Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Clifton Forge. Charlottesville won that
> contest.
>
> > Amen. Charlottesville should just fall in line with the program. I
> > understand that there might be some environmentally touchy areas - as
> > there always are - but I agree with this comment. The University more
> > than sustains this town and a freeway around it will only clear up
> > congestion of through traffic near the Fashion Square Mall and actually
> > help business receive customers who really want to be served and
> > deserve not to sit in backedup traffic.
>
> The 6.2-mile US-29 Charlottesville Bypass extension project has a
> completed NEPA process, and 100% of the right-of-way has been acquired.
> The $140 million needed for construction is currently not available in
> the budget. North of the north end of that project, 6- or 8-lane
> widening or a future extension of the bypass, could handle future
> traffic increases on US-29.

I wonder if PPTA might be able to get this project moving faster? I'd
venture to guess that someone would be willing to invest in it!

>
> --
> Scott M. Kozel Highway and Transportation History Websites
> Virginia/Maryland/Washington, D.C. http://www.roadstothefuture.com
> Philadelphia and Delaware Valley http://www.pennways.com

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