February 22, 2005

For almost 30 years, it's been one of the hottest topics among residents and city leaders in Charlottesville

On Tuesday night, February 22nd, the on-going battle to build the Meadowcreek Parkway continued.

Once again, those living in Charlottesville made an appointment to attend a city council meeting. One main reason for this was to address their views on whether the construction of the Meadowcreek Parkway has a future.

"I think that if they would build an eastern corridor, that would give us an additional bridge across the Rivanna River," said Virginia Amiss of Charlottesville.

While Ms. Amiss is against building the Parkway, the Chamber of Commerce is for it.

In a letter to the Virginia Secretary of Transportation written in October, the chamber says no other road enhancement project has greater priority than the Meadowcreek Parkway. The parkway would connect Rio Road to Route 250 and McIntire Road.

Ms. Amiss also thinks art in place causes some problems as people rubbernecking to look at the art become distracted while driving. She commented, "I have previously spoken to city council members asking they not put in the art, especially on the bypass because they are a distraction."

While some residents around Charlottesville are frustrated with this whole topic, they're not the only ones. Lawmakers in Richmond are frustrated as well because, unlike Danville and Lynchburg, Charlottesville is the only locality left to finalize such a plan.

The plan to build the Parkway, as expected by some attending Tuesday's meeting, has been side-lined once again.