With the addition of new businesses like Walmart and Lowe's near the Route 29 and Route 33 intersection, traffic is on an upswing and so is frustration. Now, there is work being done to make the busy intersection in Greene County a little easier for everyone to navigate.
On Monday, construction crews started making changes to the turn lanes on the road to alleviate some of that congestion.
"Traffic is a little crazy around here, very crazy, it gets really backed up a lot," said Billy Baker, the manager at the Burger King and gas station on the corner of the intersection. "I've had customers say that if there was an easier way to get in here, we'd get a lot more business," Baker said.
A Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) contractor is starting work on a project to make things flow faster from northbound Route 29 onto westbound Route 33. They're extending the left turn lanes 200 feet and adding a 200 feet taper that will go down the left hand lane.
"The idea there is to add capacity so that more vehicles can be accommodated and the traffic doesn't back up into the through lanes," said Stacy Londrey, a VDOT communications specialist.
It's a $200,000 project. Work will be done between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. to avoid afternoon traffic coming north out of Charlottesville.
"Between now and then, motorists will see some temporary lane closures depending on what work is happening. And just in general [they] should be cautious as they approach the intersection for vehicles, construction vehicles and trucks," Londrey said.
The work is expected to take six weeks. VDOT said it should be finished by September 21.
