Water Line Project to Close Portion of Emmet Street Through Mid-January

Cars driving on Emmett Street

Even without most students on Grounds, this stretch of Emmet Street is normally well-trafficked. It will be closed from Wednesday through Jan. 14. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications)

The City of Charlottesville will close a portion of Emmet Street from Ivy Road south to the McCormick Road bridge from Wednesday until Jan. 14 for work on a water line project. A press release about the project, including a map of the detour route and information about who to contact at the city with questions, is posted on the city’s website.

Although fall term exams will conclude Tuesday and most students will be off Grounds for the first few weeks of the closure, many faculty, staff and Health System team members will be working regular schedules during this period. In addition, many students will return for January term and for activities before the start of the spring semester.

“As Emmet Street is a major thoroughfare and traffic will be diverted to other roads that are often busy under normal circumstances, please allow extra time for travel in the areas surrounding the University throughout the road closure period,” Senior Vice President for Operations Colette Sheehy said in a communication about the closure to the University community.


Information about transit route detours, including UTS, CAT and JAUNT, is posted on the UVA Parking & Transportation website. During the closure, access to Sprigg Lane will be maintained through the work zone and access to the Central Grounds Garage will be maintained via University Avenue and Newcomb Road.

Sidewalks will remain open while work is underway, except for the west side of Emmet Street between Ivy Road and Lewis Mountain Road, as pictured on the detour map. The crosswalk near the Central Grounds Garage entrance will be open except when digging is taking place in that portion of the road. The footbridge over Emmet Street will remain open throughout the period. Check the City of Charlottesville’s website for project status updates.

Media Contact

Anthony P. de Bruyn

Office of University Communications