City contractors are beginning work on a traffic calming project on Boroughbridge Road at the corner with Bassett Avenue. The project will consist of a landscaped raised circle in the middle of the street, to slow the traffic that uses Boroughbridge as a cut-through from Midlothian Turnpike to Jahnke Road. The project is overseen by the Department of Public Works
Traffic Engineering Department. (Image and story submitted by David H.)

Cherokee Road at Wyncliff closed for major utility repairs.  Detour westbound, one lane open east bound.

From the Richmond Metropolitan Authority;
The westbound Forest Hill on-ramp heading north on the Powhite Parkway will be closed overnight from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. due to maintenance on the Parkway bridge.

The city of Richmond will be installing digital cameras at 20 intersections to capture drivers running red lights. RTD has some details but also has the map below which shows the 10 most ticketed intersections in RVA. As you can see we have 3 in the top ten and New Kent & Westover Hills Blvd comes in at #3. Nothing in the article states that the intersections will get the cameras but it seems a logical place to start.

If you take the Mayo/14th Street bridge to work you need to change your route for most of the month of April.

Starting on Sunday, April 4 at 9 p.m., the Mayo Bridge and Dock Street between 18th and 21st Street will close for routine maintenance.

The flood walls are important to keep the James River out of the city streets. But thanks to the normal wear and tear, plus the hundreds of cars that use the bridge every day, it’s time for the city to replace the guides in the ground that allow the flood walls to move.

That means no cars will be allowed to use the bridge during the work and the city knows that may upset some drivers.

[via NBC12]
Work is scheduled to end April 26.

A tree is down blocking the road on the East side of Westover Hills Blvd on Evelyn Byrd. Pictures sent in by Martin who lives on Evelyn Byrd. Thanks Martin.

From Utilibuddy Twitter;

Alternating lanes of Riverside between W. 24th and Westover Hills to close March 8-16 while we trim back tree branches in power lines.

Two readers have let me know that Riverside Drive was (still might be) closed between 42nd & 45th. Anybody know why? Reports of the morning commute being a bit of mess.

Reader Mike got this from RPD – Not sure. There was a car accident in that area that could have slowed things down.
Mike also reports that there were several plastic barricades to totally block the street so it must have been closed for a while.

I was unable to attend the public meeting so I can’t say whether or not this morning’s RTD article accurately captures the mood but it looks to me like another road project in our neighborhood is getting more resistance than support. The concerns that were reported;

No plan for a traffic light at the intersection of Forest Hill and Rettig Road, one of three breaks in the proposed median where left turns would be allowed (the others would be at Windsorview Drive and at the entrance to Willow Oaks Country Club).

An increase in U-turns because of the median, which would allow only right turns in and out of Glyndon Lane, Heartwood Road, Norcross Road and Woodberry Lane on the south side of Forest Hill.

No plan for improving visibility for motorists turning onto Forest Hill at Melbourne Drive, just east of Hathaway. “It’s an accident waiting to happen,” said the Rev. H.D. Harman, who lives on Melbourne.

Did anyone attend that wants to share what they heard?

As of Jan. 31 2010 if you want to take a bus to Stony Point Fashion you are out of luck. Route 65 Stony Point Fashion Park is being eliminated. GRTC is cutting a total of  5 underperforming routes including the one I mentioned and 68 the Lunchtime Express. Some other routes are be changed. For full details go to GRTC.

On December 1st at VDOT’s central office auditorium there will be a public hearing  to figure out which programs are going to have their budget slashed, taken away completely or pushed out a year. Not surprising considering the state of the budget. I am unsure at this time if Jahnke &  Forest Hill Ave improvements are on the table.

In related news RTD is predicting:

The bad economy will result in another $250 million to $300 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year ending June 30, House of Delegates money committees were told yesterday.

This would be on top of the $1.3 billion revenue shortage predicted in August and bring total revenues down from earlier forecasts by more than $6 billion since March 2007.

As part of the monthly Woodland Heights meeting Tom Flynn of City Traffic Engineering Department will be there to discuss the proposed traffic circle for Roanoke & Forest Hill Avenue. The meeting takes place on Tuesday, November 24th, 7 p.m. at the Berryman Center. The subject of the circle should be up around 7:30.

The south side of the “Nickel” bridge is finally being repaved so keep an eye out for a flag man and be prepared to stop and wait. Hopefully this repaving will reduce that “I’m about to lose my life” feeling I’d get every time I headed for the bridge as the bumps and waves sent my car careening.

Drivers on Forest Hill Avenue experienced a backup today just after noon, when a deer leapt into a car crossing over Reedy Creek. The driver was (presumably) shaken but unhurt, and her vehicle badly damaged. The deer was put down by police. Some lanes were shut down while the deer was being removed and the street washed down.

Today’s RTD article has much of the same information that was in the tv report. I didn’t know it was scheduled to go before committee today. (According to comments by David Hathcock it will not be heard by committee today.)

The proposal is scheduled to be considered today by the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Committee and by the full council Nov. 9. The projects haven’t been designed, but construction could start by the end of 2010, officials said.

Kathy Graziano also chimes in but doesn’t speak in favor or against the traffic circle but acknowledges the issues.

Council President Kathy C. Graziano, whose 4th District includes the Forest Hill area, acknowledged the roundabout might be a tough sell, but she credited the Department of Public Works for seeking neighborhood input and said the intersection has issues with left-hand turns and that Forest Hill Avenue could benefit from slower speeds.

“You can’t cross that road anywhere,” she said.

Just heard (4:07) from a neighbor that Nickel Bridge is closed both ways due to an accident. Will post more details once I have them.

Update 5:38 – Didn’t see anything on any of the traffic sites or news. So I assume all is back to normal.

From the Richmond City of Department Utilities:

Due to a water main break, the east and west bound lanes of Jahnke Road near the Spruance Road intersection will be closed to traffic until 12midnight. Detours will be clearly posted and marked. Motorist are asked to proceed with caution around the construction area.

The Boulevard “Nickel” Bridge will undergo scheduled maintenance beginning Tuesday, May 26 through Tuesday, June 16, daily between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. During this period, motorists will experience an alternating traffic pattern through the temporary traffic control zone. Drivers should pay special attention to signage in the area, and be prepared to stop for periods of time as directed by flaggers and the maintenance crew. In addition, pedestrians who utilize the Bridge’s walkway should also be mindful, particularly in the immediate work zone.

The city will begin inspecting the northbound lanes of the Robert E. Lee bridge beginning on Monday. The work will take approximately two weeks and then switch over to the southbound lanes. Expect to see some lanes closed periodically. Once we hear that they are switching to the southbound lanes we will let you know.

Half of this falls under better late than never. Sorry dear readers but I didn’t catch that there was a USAT Duathlon going on this weekend and will shut down some roads. Near West End News has the details and I am copying the road closures for Sunday below.

Road Closures for Sunday, April 26th
2nd Street from Byrd Street to Lee Bridge closed – Until 1:00 p.m.
Byrd Street between 2nd Street and 3rd Streets closed – Until 1:00 p.m.
The curb lane of the Lee Bridge closed in both directions — 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Riverside Drive closed from Lee Bridge access ramps to 42nd Street — 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
42nd Street from Riverside Drive to Springhill Avenue partially closed, police present to monitor and control — 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Parking on both sides of 42nd Street prohibited — 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Editor’s Note: Trying to post a blog in the 5 minutes you are in the house often results in mistakes. Updated info on the Duathlon here. Thanks Jonah for setting me straight. Now I am heading back outside.