City outlines multi-year construction pipeline that will reshape downtown traffic

City transportation staff demonstrated an internal GIS planning tool that maps active and upcoming projects and their expected traffic impacts. The presenter listed a pipeline that includes West Main utility work, a central waterline project expected to run for several more years, private developments (Verve, Bloom on Ivy), and several ADA and streetscape projects.

The central waterline project was described as multi-year work affecting Cherry Avenue and other corridors; staff said it will be disruptive because crews will work on 100–200 foot segments and that the project will continue for another two to three years. The Fontaine Avenue streetscape, a VDOT-managed project that includes a shared-use path, is scheduled to begin construction in the next few months and was described as likely to cause traffic impacts as work proceeds toward the interchange and JPA.

Staff also reported procurement challenges: several projects received bids higher than estimated, forcing scope revisions (for example, removing underground utility work from the East High Street project to bring it within budget). The presenter said the city is trying to sequence projects to reduce compounded traffic impacts and is exploring bundling some work (for example, adding a Cedar Hill sidewalk under a larger change order if feasible).

Residents asked about the public availability of the GIS portal; staff said a separate VDOT portal for the wider area is expected to go live in coming months, but the city's internal tool is currently for staff planning and is not public. Staff invited residents to submit specific trouble spots for case-by-case follow-up and said the city will continue to update timelines as design and bids evolve.