If you haven’t driven Jarman’s Gap in the past few days or weeks, the changes there are remarkable.
Track the project – budget, schedule, contacts – on VDOT’s page.
Jarman’s Gap Expansion Continues
Crozet's community blog
That’s a lot and it’s probably going to look out of place considering the surrounding roads. Actually it’s kinda shocking considering none of the neighborhoods along Jarman’s Gap have matching infrastructure; nowhere in Crozet does. Jarman’s Gap has needed improvements for a while but, it seems that building sidewalks, trails, and bike paths connecting areas of Crozet would have been a better use of the millions spent.
Hopefully they will at least landscape it with native vegetation, specifically trees and wildflowers and not just grass seed with straw thown down on top.
Actually, many of the neighborhoods along Jarman’s Gap do have matching infrastructure – Grayrock, Waylands Grant, Bargamin Park, and Old Trail all have buried utilities, sidewalks, and trails connecting them.
I’m not aware of anywhere in Crozet which has “12-foot wide travel lanes, a four-foot wide bicycle
lane on each side of the road, curb and gutter on both sides of the
roadway and sidewalk on the northern side”
And if each mile of roadway in Crozet is going to cost $4 million we’re gonna need $100 million just to fix our little piece of the puzzle.
http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/culpeper/2011/construction_now_in_progress52309.asp
Since population more than quadrupled and traffic has also in the last 10 years, i tis about time to improve the infrastructure and have the ability for many to walk or bike without being run over by many drivers going over 45 mph on this road barely staying in their lane.
“Native vegetation” along with people’s yards have been destroyed by this over
built project. What is remarkable is that people had no real idea of the extent of the destruction. The Crozet that people claim to love will fairly soon cease to exist. Far better to raise hell about a proposed gas station out on 250 west
of Crozet, than to focus on the ground that is shifting in front of you. Once it
is gone you can not put it back..
Damn right. The plans for widening this road were more than a decade old. If people had no idea, they didn’t bother to find out. I’m not being snarky, but this was no secret. I’m a tree-hugger, but there’s no question that the road was not safe. Not for drivers, and certainly not for anyone on foot or wheels.
Unsafe as in accidents, sinkholes, hindering development, what? And, I have been looking for the herds of people that claim to want to walk in Crozet. Where are they? Or is it just
too hot, too cold, too far, too old. I realize that some people
want to create an urban area. If that is what you want you are getting it…
Three years ago my daughters and I chose to walk from LaCocina del Sol to our then home in Grayrock. No fewer than four cars were forced to suddenly swerve to avoid us. And yes we were walking on the proper side of the road. There simply was no safe place to go. We never tried it again.
We are now blessed with a large number of people who don’t have a clue as to how to drive on rural roads. Or, maybe the driver of the approaching vehicle was just trying to give you more room. Sometimes people swerve when approaching others on a sidewalk, then what??
There is a real need for urban areas to give
people that important choice on how they want to live.
Do you really “love” JGR in its pre-construction phase?  Me too  I’ll miss the blind hills;  the narrow roads;  the part where I could see pedestrians eyes in horror as i drive towards them.  Give me a break, “…love will fairly soon cease to exist”. Â
Furthermore, I would bet property value on JGR go up with the safer, pedestrian access to downtown. Â Â
Cutting off large parts of peoples’s yards increase property values? The Methodist Church should now double in value.
I’ve never seen the horror. How are your driving skills?
The road seems to have a low accident rate and it did nothing
in it’s present state to deter developement.
How are my driving skills? Take a walk on JRG and i’ll show you my driving skills. Â No cheating…. don’t be jumping off the black top into the shoulder. Â We want to simulate the similar environment pre-constsruction. Â
People i’ve talked to about JGR do not like the construction, nor part of the land purchased from VDOT. Â However, Â they also understand the lack of safety this road has. Â Â
Most everyone has walked JGR once. Â Once is enough. Â
Regarding Methodist church. Â perhaps members can walk. Â Jesus walked, so can they.
Maybe I am just stupid but, every time I walk down a road I try to walk on the shoulder whenever possible. You know, when a car approaches, move over to shoulder. Like I said,
I am stupid, I do not challange cvehicles for roadway space. I do not expect millions to be spent to provide me a place to walk. That is what urban areas are for.
Aha! I knew it. You have never walked down JGR. Much of it doesnt have a shoulder to walk on. Its either pavement or sharp drops into a two foot drainage. I woulnt exactly call that drainage someones ‘yard’. Property, yes. Yard, no.
What Geo said. There is no shoulder.
There is one guy who walks JGR every day, and necessarily walks in the driving lane, the alternative is crawling in a ditch or through waist high vegetation or worse. I walked JGR a few times and it is a hell of a challenge. Since the populace along JGR greatly outnumbers several main roads WITH shoulders etc, it is clear that JGR is way overdue for an upgrade.
Sorry, you don’t know this. I have
walked it and probably a farther distance than you would expect.
The “extensive destruction” is mostly what has to be done to deal with the storm water managment that will come with putting curbs and expanding the asphalt on this stretch of road. Water that now runs down the ravines will have to go somewhere. They are building collectorsÂ
Change can be unexpected and painful but everyone on Jarmans Gap knew what was coming and VDOT has paid homeowners for the impact. Grass and trees can be replanted but a young boys life was ended because developers build and then don’t put in safe traffic controls. What will a 3rd gas station do to the traffic on 250?  Â
A third gas station will add the same as a third coffeehouse, shop, or
whatever.  Choice. Developers and traffic controls had nothing to do
with the tragic accident. The Police did not charge the person involved. That speaks for itself. It’s like playing on the Railroad tracks, it’s fun
until…Â
You ask “what will a 3rd gas station do to the traffic on 250?”
Here is the most obvious of many answers. Give I64 travellers a option closer to the interstate and FURTHER from our schools. Relieve the traffic congestion choking the road in front of Brownsville Market (folks just sit in the road waiting for a space to pull in) by giving another choice to the MANY new residents now occupying our historic farmland just down the road. And last but not least, allow free enterprize to proceed and dispel the myth(?) that western Albemarle is unfriendly toward property owners rights.
Can someone tell me why the Methodist church lot was taken and the cinderblock building (the former Community Garage building) received “historical status” and was spared? We need to adjust our definitions if THAT building has historical significance…
Just because it is not pretty or useful does not mean it cannot be historic. That may be the only way that Crozet will be able to survive.
The Methodist Church would of looked alot better if some common sense would of been applied to the road project. The bike lanes are overkill… Looks like they are trying to create another Short Pump.
Nothing original here…
Saying things like “they are trying to create another Short Pump” make you sound less credible.
And the bike lanes are quite necessary. Bikers and pedestrians need to get places, too.
I just don’t think so. These people are far from done yet… And the word “dangerous” keeps coming up. Is
that the new way to get your way? People have been living here for years and all of a sudden the place is
dangerous? Why would people move to a place with so many dangers? Bikers and pedestrians? Seems that the number 1 priority is parking spaces.
As the population grows, infrastructure needs grow. Why is this so difficult to understand?Â
Realtors, Developers, and unelected boards
taking over a place does not need to happen.
It might be a hard reality for some but, large
scale growth is not always a good thing.
Our ELECTED BOS already designated Crozet as a growth area. That’s not going to be undone. You just go ahead and stay in your 1950’s mind and think that adding a hundred new motorist on a road won’t raise the danger level for pedestrtians or bikers. This isn’t some conspiratorial buzz word, but the result of first-hand observations of residents of the area.
Where are the facts? Are there more accidents?Have you ever really faced a danger? Why would people move to an area that was truly dangerous. What do you actually know about a 1950’s mentality??
Hey Edward,
Maybe you could let Mr. Dorrier, your buddy, know your feelings on the matter. I know he’s so anti-growth.
Love,
-Evan
P.S.
Can you please explain how you’re against any other form of development and yet are for another gas station on 250? I’d love to know how you actually balance those positions.
I am not against business.
I am against people wanting to destroy the place they claim to love.
Your obsession is really getting the best of you…
I’ve heard a certain former President of the United States was said to have stayed there or eaten there. This might be a question for Phil James.
I was in Grottoes and couldnt help but notice one of their streets that had no sidewalks or bike path connected to the road, but a detached paved 5ft trail, about 10 FT apart from the road seperated by grass. Overall similar width to new JGR, but the seperate bike/pedestrian trail made the road feel more of a country setting. I hope new roads take this approach instead.
That sounds like an approach that most everyone can support. It seems that a lot of people, myself included, are uncomfortable with a 40+’ swath of asphalt and concrete.
However, I think that it will eventually at least match with the rest of Crozet Ave and other streets we have in Crozet (hopefully without the $4million/mile price tag). My hope is that in a couple of years it will be an asset to the community and part of a larger walking/biking trail system that connects the many parts of Crozet. I would love to bike and walk to more places in the community, as of right now I’m not comfortable doing so.
I don’t know what roads cost to build…but here is local comparison:
Western Bypass 233 M/ 6.2miles = $37.6M/mile
JRG: 4M/.8miles = $10M/Mile.
Sounds like a good deal to me. Â Besides, anytime state/local funding can be used for a cause i support, i’ll take it!
Argggg..JGR +4M/mile.
this whole debate is rather comical. it’s not like we all woke up this morning and VDOT placed this new road in our backyards. it has been years in the making. and as typical, on paper things always look different. reality is an eye opener. a wider, safer road for peds and bikes, sure. a road to land a 737….
And, there is no going back. It’s always best to be careful what you wish for…
Agreed, to a point. The expansion has been in the works since before Old Trail broke ground. So apparently VDOT was aware of a need. But maybe we should see the finished project. I have a feeling it will look a lot different
The road is really not that wide. Â Its not like there are center turn lanes. Â While its being constructed, space is needed dig drainage. Â
Yeah, it sucks that they had to cut trees to add drainage, but maybe that should of been done in the first place. Â Roads are not as simple as throwing down some black top down and put up a street sign. Â In my opinion, build less roads, but build them correctly in the first place. Â
Until it is economically viable for landowners to do NOTHING to their land, we will continue to build and build. Its the American way. As a child, I watched it. As an adult, I try to have a voice in contolling what happens to my surroundings. I owe this to my own children.
Actually it’s OUR fault and our parents. More kids means more development. More people are being born, living longer, Bill Gates is eradicating disease. Space will be a problem. Now if we would just build up instead of out…oh wait, that would kill the views. Time to start digging down. Edward’s idea of the Old Trail Cemetery is sounding better and better.
I agree with trolley (?) that strong support for population growth is a distinct American cultural mindset.  That said, the U.S. birth rate has been falling in the last decade, and is nearing a point below what would be needed to maintain a sustainable and neutral population.   Â
http://www.prb.org/Articles/2011/us-fertility-decline.asp
I attended a few meetings for the original master planning process — watching the political players, advocates, a few residents, and assorted interests participate.   I became opposed to the Master Plan, though I began the process with some openness.Â
Residents appear extremely confused at the size/scope/cost of JG Road project.  After watching the master planning process, JG was not a surprise to me.
After the “Master Plan” passed, Old Trail was approved for highest residential density of any development in Albemarle (12 home acre).  Soon thereafter, the largest eastern plot serendipitously “fell through” ( 1 home/acre).  Ditto Lanetown Road.  Â
 JG Road/Old Trail is a politically sensitive area — near I-64.  By loading development in the West (Yancey Mill, Jarman’s Gap, Waylands, Bargamin’s, Grayrock commute via I-64), planners could assure political interests in Ivy it was within reach of I-64.    Ivy supervisor Sally Thomas and Jeff Werner made Jarman’s Gap Road a major priority, and Route 250 through Ivy is seen as one of Albemarle’s most significant environmental treasures. Â
I am not saying that, if the planning process was being used this way, it is morally right.  Rather, I am saying this scenario is a more likely explanation for recent history in Crozet, including Jarman’s Gap Road, that is more accurate than “it just happened” or “it was decided a long time ago”.  Â
 Creating a new city in a rural area like Western Albemarle is a huge undertaking, requiring public relations etc, that is certain to create political concerns.   Keeping the various supporters on board is part of the process.
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I just do not think that current residents are part of the plan. Money and politics, that’s a winning combination for community…