McIntire Road Extended project plans submitted to City Council are different from plans submitted to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Below are the graphics of the McIntire Road Extended project that as best I can determine are the most current plans for this road project. Interestingly the road still officially starts 775 feet north of Route 250 Bypass (includes neither an at-grade intersection or an interchange). Although sheets 4 and 5 were the only ones submitted to City Council by VDOT as part of the request to grant a permanent easement to Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority - an item on city council's Sept. 8, 2009 agenda, sheet 3 below (showing the Route 250 Bypass end of the project) is what VDOT provided me as the current plan for this project. Plans submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on August 7, 2009, however, show a totally different project design for the Route 250 Bypass end of the project - an actual at-grade intersection of McIntire Road Extended at Route 250 Bypass. So, which of these plans is the correct plan? Or is VDOT actually providing different plans to different agencies - plans most consistent with what VDOT is seeking from that agency. Or, are there (as I beleive) still two alternative projects under consideration and no final design yet selected?

On August 7, 2009, VDOT submitted a request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with an at-grade intersection. See these plans at my August 15, 2009 posting of the VDOT submittal. You will clearly see that these plans differ in many aspects from the plans submitted to city council. In fact, the design of the box culvert that allows a tributary of the Schenk's Branch to flow under the proposed McIntire Road Extended is a different design and at a different location on the different plans.

I have visited the Charlottesville City Attorney's office and spoken with the director of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority in search of answers to why these plans are different, and if they are concerned. It appears to me that all parties concerned are simply reacting to documents provided them, and looking only at issues immediately before them - and only interested citizens are trying to look at the comprehensive issue of the design, review, and environmental implications of actions being considered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, the City of Charlottesville, and others.

One would believe that all agencies would desire to be working from the same plans - especially on a controversial project as is the McIntire Road Extended project, but this doesn't appear to be the case.

Do consider providing your thoughts to city council on September 8, 2009 at council chambers shortly after 7:00 p.m. or send your thoughts by email to council@charlottesville.org to reach all of the city councilors.


Sheet 3 of McIntire Road Extended Project - current plan dated Oct. 30, 2008.


Sheet 4 of McIntire Road Extended Project - as submitted to Charlottesville City Council


Sheet 5 of McIntire Road Extended Project - as submitted to Charlottesville City Council