The US 29 Western Bypass a Bit Of History by Charles Battig Albemarle County All material here is from the website of Scott Kozel:

Excerpts From An Analysis by Carter Myers lll, Rt.29 is a strategic north-south transportation corridor from North Carolina to Gainesville. It is also a critical artery serving local commuters, shoppers, airport traffic and our fastest growing areas. Traffic volume in certain sections reaches 60,000 vehicles per day. For nearly 25 years, our community has painfully searched to find a balance between the statewide and regional needs of a Rt. 29 "throughway" and the impacts on the local land, the environment, property values and our quality of life. After studying approximately 27 possible road locations in the City and County, it was determined that the one with the least impacts, most direct path, and least cost was Alternative 10, ("Rt. 29 Western By-pass").

Alternate Routes Considered VDOT Hearing June 28, 1990

Analysis (continued) First, all eastern routes and routes through the City were ruled out because of impacts to Monticello, costs, special easement conflicts, or substantial impacts to developed property. Second, the far western routes, while more in the form of a "true by-pass," all crossed appreciably more of the Rivanna watershed and crossed the Reservoir, impacted more rural land, farms and subdivisions, cost more, and faced greater public opposition. The Western By-pass, the shortest and least expensive, was selected and approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) in 1990 following a location public hearing and the issuance of an approved Federal Highway Administration (FWHA) Environmental Impact Statement.

Analysis (continued) I. This route does not cross the reservoir and has the shortest path (only 3.4 miles) in the watershed. 2. This was the least costly of the alternatives. While still costly, other than the delay, extra reservoir protection, and other community accommodation, there is nothing unusual that adds to cost other than bridges and rolling land. 3. Because of its close proximity, this route gives the most local benefit and diverts the most local traffic from the existing Rt. 29 North. If built today, approximately 15,000 vehicles would be diverted from the existing Rt. 29 North (approximately 25% of the current traffic). Travel would be uninterrupted from the Rt By-pass to Route 29 north of the Rivanna River. 4. It will serve traffic going to the University for employee parking, game traffic and the proposed new basketball arena. Improving mobility in the City at the Hydraulic Rd. intersection, the Rt. 250 / 29 By-pass ramp, along Emmett St, and on Ivy Road will be a substantial benefit

Analysis (continued) 5. Being the shortest route with no interchanges, it will have little impact on growth and development Schools are not being affected. For purposes of comparison, St. Anne's Belfield Lower School is closer to the current Rt By-pass than any school would be to the Western Bypass. In fact, Agnor-Hurt Elementary, the County school nearest the Bypass route, was built by Albemarle County after the location was chosen. 7. The safety of the traveling public will be improved. Accident records historically show that a highway interrupted with traffic signals and unlimited access results in a greater number of accidents and deaths.

Analysis (concluded) A 1995 survey of 625 local residents indicated support for the project by almost three to one. From an environmental perspective, our reservoir will have more protection than any other in Virginia (I-64 crosses directly over the Newport News reservoir). All environmental impacts have been studied and will be appropriately mitigated. Extensive and thorough reservoir protection has been built into the design features. Spill protection, retention ponds, retaining walls, storm water and silt detention and filtration are all designed into the project... Finally, from a historical perspective, it is interesting to note that the same type of debate took place 50 years ago when the functional and attractive Rt. 250 By-pass was proposed and built. No road could be nicer looking and more beneficial to this community.

Sierra Club Sues On February 8, 2003, the Richmond Times- Dispatch had an article, " Court affirms U.S. 29 ruling" The federal appeals court in Richmond yesterday affirmed the judge who dismissed most of an environmentalists' lawsuit challenging the proposed U.S. 29 bypass project at Charlottesville. The Piedmont Environmental Council and the Sierra Club sued in January 1998 to block construction of the controversial road, a 6.2-mile stretch meant to help ease traffic crowding. The suit against federal and state transportation agencies and officials alleged the project was illegal and environmentally harmful, among other claims.Richmond Times- DispatchCourt affirms U.S. 29 ruling

Federal Appeals Court Ruling On February 8, 2003, the Richmond Times-Dispatch had an article, " Court affirms U.S. 29 ruling" The federal appeals court in Richmond yesterday affirmed the judge who dismissed most of an environmentalists' lawsuit challenging the proposed U.S. 29 bypass project at Charlottesville. The Piedmont Environmental Council and the Sierra Club sued in January 1998 to block construction of the controversial road, a 6.2-mile stretch meant to help ease traffic crowding. The suit against federal and state transportation agencies and officials alleged the project was illegal and environmentally harmful, among other claims.Richmond Times-Dispatch Court affirms U.S. 29 ruling In August 2001, U.S. District Judge Norman K. Moon approved additional studies of the effects of the project that were demanded by the two groups. But he ruled in favor of the project on eight of nine counts in the lawsuit, saying the defendants had complied with the National Environmental Policy Act and other federal laws in approving the plans…

Ten Plus Years Of Needless Traffic Congestion and Dangerous Driving Conditions Are Enough Let’s Go Forward With The US 29-Bypass