- Connector road opens five months early - By Matt Kelly

Fans attending the last basketball season in U-Hall now have a new way to get there.

The North Grounds Connector, which links Massie Road to U.S. 250, opened on Jan. 13, five months ahead of schedule. Designed to be the main entrance for the John Paul Jones Arena, slated to open in June, the new road also will bring Cavalier basketball fans to see the rest of the 2005-2006 season.

“The early opening of the North Grounds Connector gives the public time to get used to the new road before we officially open the arena and begin to hold events later this year,” said Leonard W. Sandridge Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The $129.8 million multipurpose John Paul Jones Arena will house the men’s and women’s basketball programs and will host about 60 other cultural and entertainment events a year.

The connector, which cost $4.1 million, will provide 24 hour-a-day access, seven days a week, to the North Grounds. Drivers enter the half-mile-long road via a right-hand exit off the eastbound lane of the U.S. 250 bypass. During events, police will control the road using traffic cones, with two lanes coming into the arena before events and two lanes exiting the arena when events are over.

The University is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation and Charlottesville and Albemarle County police departments on a traffic plan for athletic and cultural events, as well as for day-to-day traffic.

http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/north_grounds.html
http://fmweb.virginia.edu/fpc/ArenaProject/NorthGroundsConnector.htm