Project Description
The existing Dairy Road bridge over Route 250 Bypass has reached the end of its useful life. Recent inspection data dated March 6, 2025, shows an overall condition of the bridge as “poor.” A full replacement of the bridge is necessary and has been funded through the State of Good Repair (SGR) program using a combination of state and federal dollars.
An engineering review of the existing bridge substructure has determined that phasing construction of the new bridge while maintaining traffic on half of the existing bridge is not feasible due to the nature of the foundation work required and the structural needs of current bridge design standards. Building a bridge “off alignment” to either the east or west of the existing bridge while maintaining traffic will require considerable permanent impacts to adjacent private properties, significant and costly reconstruction of the approach roadways, and/or removal of the dedicated pedestrian bridge the City completed in 2017. Therefore, the most cost-effective and least impactful replacement method is to close the bridge entirely, demolish the existing bridge, and build a new bridge in its place. A complete structure replacement presents the most effective solution for extending the bridge’s service life while offering the greatest potential to optimize the bridge’s geometric design and substantially enhance safety.
The pedestrian bridge will remain open during construction, except for short-term closures as bridge construction activities dictate the closure of the bridge for the safety of pedestrians/cyclists.
Proposed Detours
The Dairy Road bridge over the Route 250 Bypass is expected to be closed for 12-14 months during construction. The City of Charlottesville has developed official detour routes that will be signed for the duration of construction. The routes were analyzed and selected to minimize inconvenience to the traveling public. During construction activities, the City will perform the following temporary improvements along the proposed detour routes to help minimize the impacts of traffic:
- Install a temporary traffic signal at the intersection of Rugby Avenue and the US-250 Bypass eastbound off-ramp to help facilitate traffic flow through this intersection
- Review and adjust traffic signal timings along the detour routes while the detour is in place
- The City will continue to monitor traffic conditions on the detour route during construction and will consider additional improvements, as needed.
Estimated Project Schedule
| Milestone | Estimate Date* |
|---|---|
|
Public Hearing |
July 15, 2025 |
|
Advertisement for Construction |
August 2026 |
|
Construction Activities Begins |
December 2026 |
|
Bridge Closed |
February 2027 |
|
New Bridge Reopened |
March 2028 |
|
Construction Complete |
May 2028 |
* Future dates are an estimate and subject to change. The City of Charlottesville’s goal is to complete this project as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible with minimal inconvenience to the public. The safety of the public is paramount to the City of Charlottesville.
