“Beyond its role in traffic management for the John Paul Jones Arena, the connector adds an important new piece to the roadway system in the county,” Sandridge said. “This road is an example of the University working with the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County to enhance our local transportation system.”

Early, on-budget completion reflects cooperation among VDOT and design and construction teams to accomplish a rarity in the construction business, according to Richard B. Laurance, the project director.

“Extended work hours, an acceleration of the early part of the project and ideal weather conditions allowed the project to finish five months early,” Laurance said.

Road construction included blasting underground rock, closing Massie Road during the summer and closely monitoring traffic interference and neighborhood concerns.

There are crossings for the Rivanna Trail Association and Darden and Law School students, a fully functioning traffic signal at the Massie Road intersection with the North Grounds Connector, and lighting and sidewalks in the main pedestrian areas. The connector will be fully landscaped to provide a natural looking entrance to the University.
The University will maintain the landscaping and snow removal, but major repairs will be performed by VDOT as part of its routine cycle.

http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/north_grounds.html
http://www.fm.virginia.edu/fpc/ArenaProject/NGC/photogallery1.htm