HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP202200015 Study 2022-05-16Traffic & Route Evaluation Study
Woodridge Solar
Albemarle County, Virginia
May 2022
Prepared For:
Hexagon Energy
TIMMONS GROUP .00*00
YOUR VISION ACHIEVED THROUGH OURS. * 0 •
Traffic & Route Evaluation Study
Woodridge Solar
Albemarle County, Virginia
Prepared For:
Hexagon Energy
321 East Main Street
Suite 500
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
(434) 326-4405
Prepared By:
Timmons Group
1001 Boulders Parkway
Suite 300
Richmond, Virginia 23225
(804)200-6500
May 2022
PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK
May 2022 Traffic & Route Evaluation Study - Woodridge Solar Project
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLEOF CONTENTS........................................................................................................................I
LISTOF FIGURES........................................................................................................................... II
1 PROJECT OVERVIEW..............................................................................................................1-1
2 EXISTING CONDITIONS.........................................................................................................2-1
ADJACENTROADWAYS.............................................................................................................. 2-1
EXISTINGSTRUCTURES............................................................................................................. 2-2
SITEACCESS........................................................................................................................... 2-3
EXTERNAL TRAFFIC ROUTES...................................................................................................... 2-4
3 CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................................3-1
May 2022 TraTfic & Route Evaluation Study - Woodridge 5olar Project
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1: SURROUNDING ROADWAY NETWORK AND SITE LOCATION
FIGURE 2: SITE ENTRANCES AND STUDY INTERSECTIONS
FIGURE 3: SITE LAYOUT
FIGURE 4: LOCATION OF PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES
FIGURE 5: TYPICAL PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON JEFFERSON MILL ROAD
FIGURE 6: PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON JEFFERSON MILL ROAD
FIGURE 7: PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON JEFFERSON MILL ROAD
FIGURE H: PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON JEFFERSON MILL ROAD
FIGURE 9: PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 10: PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 11: PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 12: PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 13: PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 14: PAVEMENT DEFICIENCIES ON SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 15:
INTERSECTION 1 - JEFFERSON MILL ROAD AND ROLLING ROAD
FIGURE 16:
INTERSECTION 2 - SECRETARYS ROAD AND ROLLING ROAD
FIGURE 17:
INTERSECTION 3 - BLACK
BRANCH FARM AND JEFFERSON MILL ROAD
FIGURE 18:
INTERSECTION 4 - SECRETARYS ROAD AND BLENHEIM ROAD
FIGURE 19:
SITE ENTRANCE #1 -
SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 20:
SITE ENTRANCE #2 -
SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 21:
SITE ENTRANCE #3 -
SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 22:
SITE ENTRANCE #4 -
SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 23:
SITE ENTRANCE #5 -
SECRETARYS ROAD
FIGURE 24:
SITE ENTRANCE #6-JEFFERSON
MILL ROAD
FIGURE 25:
SITE ENTRANCE #7-JEFFERSON
MILL ROAD
FIGURE 26:
SITE ENTRANCE #H-JEFFERSON
MILL ROAD
FIGURE 27:
SITE ENTRANCE #9 -
BLACK BRANCH FARM
FIGURE 28:
SITE ENTRANCE #10
- EYELAND DRIVE
May 2022 TraTfic & Route Evaluation Study — Woodridge 5olar Project
1 PROJECT OVERVIEW
Timmons Group, at the request of Hexagon Energy, completed a transportation assessment for the
proposed Woodridge Solar Project, located in Albemarle County, Virginia. This work has been
prepared to identify potential transportation issues associated with the construction and operation
phases of the proposed project. The tasks associated with this assessment included:
• Review of data and documents provided by the Client relative to the project;
• Coordination with the Client on access, schedule, and other parameters that are reflected in
the traffic assessment;
• Obtaining available geometric (roadway widths, intersection control, etc.) and speed limit data
that is readily available via a review of available aerial imagery through Google Earth, Bing,
or County GIS systems and a field visit conducted on Friday, March 25, 2022;
• Obtaining available VDOT traffic data for those roads adjacent to the site; and
• Preparing a narrative summarizing existing pavement/intersection conditions, traffic along the
adjacent roadway network, and anticipated impacts associated with the site traffic along with
potential mitigation measures.
1-1
May 2022 TraTfic & Route Evaluation Study — Woodridge 5olar Project
2 EXISTING CONDITIONS
Timmons Group compiled existing pavement conditions, existing structures and roadway
characteristics for facilities adjacent to the proposed Woodridge Solar Project in Albemarle County,
Virginia.
The site is located along US Route 708 (Secretarys Road) south of the City of Charlottesville, north
of Scottsville, and east of Route 20 (Scottsville Road).
The project location is shown on Figure 1 (all figures are located at the end of the study), the study
intersections and site entrances can be found in Figure 2 and a preliminary site plan can be found in
Figure 3.
ADJACENT ROADWAYS
A visual assessment of the adjacent roadways was performed on March 25, 2022. The locations of
noted pavement deficiencies and numerical photo key is shown on Figure 4 and photos of
representative pavement deficiencies can be found in Figures 5 through 14.
Jefferson Mill Road (Route 618) is a two-lane, undivided minor collector road with no posted speed
limit, assumed to be 55 mph. According to the 2019 VDOT Count Book, Jefferson Mill Road services
520 vehicles per day. The pavement on Jefferson Mill Road is in fair condition with some potholes,
alligator cracking and patching throughout. Pictures of the existing pavement deficiencies can be
found in Figures 5 through 8.
Secretarys Road (Route 708) is a two-lane, undivided local road with no posted speed limit, assumed
to be 55 mph. According to the 2019 VDOT Count Book, Secretarys Road services 790 vehicles per
day between Route 627 and Presidents Road and 600 vehicles per day between Presidents Road and
Rolling Road. The pavement on Secretarys Road is in fair condition and is unstriped. Pictures of the
existing pavement deficiencies can be found in Figures 9 through14.
Rolling Road (Route 620) is a two-lane, undivided local road with no posted speed limit, assumed to
be 55 mph. According to the 2019 VDOT Count Book, Rolling Road services 1,900 vehicles per day.
The pavement on Rolling Road is in fair condition.
Eyeland Drive is a gravel, undivided local road with no posted speed limit and no available AADT
data. This facility appears to be private and serve a limited number or agricultural/residential parcels.
Blenheim Road (Route 795)is a two-lane, undivided local road with no posted speed limit. The
pavement on Blenheim Road is in good condition.
2-1
May 2022 TraTfic & Route Evaluation Study — Woodridge Solar Project
EXISTING STRUCTURES
Per the online VDOT database, there are four (4) structures in the vicinity of the project:
1. An unrestricted culvert on Secretary Road to accommodate Murphy Creek.
2. An unrestricted culvert on Jordan Run Lane to accommodate a branch of Turkey Run.
3. An unrestricted bridge on Blenheim Road over the Hardware River
4. An unrestricted bridge on Jefferson Mill Road over the Hardware River
Based on our field review and the aforementioned database information, these structures should not
preclude heavy vehicle access to the site.
Intersection Control
Four (4) key intersections were identified within the study area and are included in this evaluation:
1. Rolling Road and Jefferson Mill Road (Unsignalized);
2. Rolling Road and Secretarys Road (Unsignalized);
3. Jefferson Mill Road and Black Branch Farm (Unsignalized); and
4. Secretarys Road and Blenheim Road (Unsignalized).
At the unsignalized four -legged intersection of Rolling Road and Jefferson Mill Road, Jefferson Mill
Road is the stop -controlled approach; the northern approach serves gravel parking area that has a
second driveway approximately 100' to the west. The pavement on Jefferson Mill Road flares out to
80' at the stop sign but typically measures 19-20' wide along the site frontage. The pavement on
Rolling Road is 20' wide. Each approach consists of a single lane that serves all movements. Photos
of the intersection can be found in Figure 15.
At the unsignalized three-legged intersection of Rolling Road and Secretarys Road, Secretarys Road
is the stop -controlled approach. On Secretarys Road the pavement is 50' at the stop sign and 20'
typically. The pavement on Rolling Road is 21-22' wide. Each approach consists of a single lane that
serves all movements. Photos of the intersection can be found in Figure 16.
At the unsignalized three-legged intersection of Jefferson Mill Road and Black Branch Farm, Black
Branch Farm is the stop -controlled approach. Black Branch Farm is a gravel road that flares out to
42' at Jefferson Mill Road; typically, the road 16-18' wide. Black Branch Farm is not suitable for large
truck traffic in its current condition. Jefferson Mill Road measures 20' wide. Photos of the intersection
can be found in Figure 17.
At the four -legged intersection of Secretarys Road and Blenheim Road all approaches are stop
controlled (i.e., all way stop). The pavement on Blenheim Road north of Secretarys Road is 20' and
not adjacent to the site. The pavement along Blenheim Road south of Secretarys Road (adjacent to
the site) is 22-23'typically. The pavement on east- and westbound Secretarys Road is 23-24'typically.
Photos of the intersection can be found in Figure 18.
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May 2022 Traffix & Route Evaluation Study - Woodridge 5olar Project
SITE ACCESS
Site Access will be provided via 10 entrances as shown in Figure 1, five (5) along Secretarys Road,
three (3) along Jefferson Mill Road, one (1) along Black Branch Farm, and one (1) on Eyeland Drive.
Entrance
Number
Location
Pavement
Condition
Driveway
Condition
Figure
Number
1
Secretarys Road
Good; 24'
Paved; 20'
19
2
Secretarys Road
Good; 22'
Gravel; 24'
20
3
Secretarys Road
Good; 22'
Gravel; 17'
21
4
Secretarys Road
Good; 19'
Gravel; 24'
22
5
Secretarys Road
Good; 20'
Gravel; 17'
23
6
Jefferson Mill Road
Good; 20'
Gravel; 14'
24
7
Jefferson Mill Road
Good; 20'
Gravel; 14'
25
8
Jefferson Mill Road
Good; 20'
Gravel; 13'
26
9
Black Branch Farm
Gravel; 16'
Gravel; 12'
27
10
Eyeland Drive
Gravel; 14'
Gravel; 12'
28
As shown in Figure 21 (Site Entrance 3) there is limited sight distance to the west along Secretarys
Road due to horizontal and vertical curvature.
2-3
May 2022 TraTfic & Route Evaluation Study — Woodridge 5olar Project
EXTERNAL TRAFFIC ROUTES
Based on the existing road network and types of traffic associated with the site, it is anticipated that
all construction equipment, aggregate, supplies and general construction traffic will access the site
primarily utilizing Secretarys Road and Jefferson Mill Road. The geometry and volumes present along
these facilities are capable of accommodating site -generated traffic during construction or
operation/maintenance. It is recommended that internal access roads be utilized as much as possible
to minimize traffic impacts to the surrounding state -maintained roads and residents of the area.
Several entrances are proposed off of existing local/private roads that may need to be enhanced to
accommodate the construction traffic (both vehicle type and volume).
Given the existing posted speeds and anticipated slower entering/exiting traffic, temporary traffic
control (TTC) measures may be necessary. Pertinent signage should be installed prior to the site
preparation work and removed when mechanical/electrical work/ inspections begin. Should a traffic
issue arise during construction, it is anticipated that the chosen contactor will work Albemarle County
and VDOT to appropriately address the specific concern.
01
May 2022 TraTfic & Route Evaluation Study — Woodridge 5olar Project
3 CONCLUSIONS
Based on our review of available data relating to the site and the adjacent roadways, the following
is offered:
• The proposed Woodridge Solar site is located south of Charlottesville, in Albemarle County,
Virginia (see Figure 1).
• Site Access will be provided via ten entrances as shown in Figure 1, five (5) along Secretarys
Road, three (3) along Jefferson Mill Road, one (1) along Black Branch Farm, and one (1) on
Eyeland Drive.
• The primary adjacent roadway facilities have the available capacity to accommodate site -
generated traffic, both during construction and operations/maintenance activities based on
existing ADTs. Any pavement deficiencies found in the field were typical and noted.
• Assuming site -traffic is focused on Secretarys Road and Jefferson Mill Road no improvements
are necessary/anticipated to accommodate site -generated traffic. However, it is
recommended that temporary traffic control measures be considered for the duration of the
site preparation/construction phase.
• It is recommended that internal access roads be utilized as much as possible to minimize
traffic impacts to the surrounding state -maintained roads and residents of the area .
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