Widening the bypass on-ramp to two lanes at Best Buy will cost $7.3M, 50% more than expected. Roads are very, very expensive. #
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Well, some local news outlet just had to leap out in front of this bus, to those around not wanting to see a road widened and improved. Especially if that road happens to usually be either 29 or 250.
“50% more than expected”
Waldo, are you jumping on the figuring bandwagon that: the new retaining wall shall account for over 2.4 million of this increase as well? Why am I finding such difficult to fathom? Granted, that might possibly be expected on the price tag for labor. However, the materials this retaining wall would consist of?! Are the blocks to construct this being imported from China?
You don’t suppose it’s a rouse to hold out and wait to change the plan over into a single left travel-lane flyover? And what about the condition of that interchange bridge? Is there any idea what the actual rated condition of it is?
I have no idea. Somewhere between changing my son and putting him down for a nap I noticed this story and wrote three sentences about it.
We reported the increase back in June, but the ramp was discussed at the MPO meeting last week. Sorry we weren’t able to produce a timeline, but the discussion took place during an item to amend the transportation improvement program. We have the audio on our site and I believe that item starts around 30 minutes in.
Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow