Under Construction

Project Details

This project is managed and administered by the City of Harrisonburg. Please see the City’s Web site for this project at:
http://www.ericksonstonespring.org

The Erickson Avenue/Stone Spring Road Connection is a 3.1 mile long project corridor. Phase I for corridor improvement is a 0.23 mile section of Erickson Avenue at the intersection of Route 42. Although relatively short in length, the project addresses extremely critical traffic capacity and safety issues. The project will provide widening of Erickson Avenue, approximately 600 feet west of the intersection, from two-lane, 22-foot wide, asphalt surface shoulder and ditch street section to four-lanes with curb and gutter, a minimum of 48-feet wide asphalt surface to provide adequate turn lanes. On-street, four-foot wide bicycle lanes in each direction and a sidewalk are part of the project. The intersection with Route 42 will be widened and improved to add right turn lanes and a new mast arm signal system interconnected to the at-grade railroad crossing with pre-emption equipment.

The project crosses a Norfolk Southern (NS) railroad line and just east of Route 42. Erickson Avenue currently passes beneath an existing NS trestle. The project will demolish this aged timber trestle and provide a new at-grade crossing of the NS spur line. The construction includes the relocation of approximately 1500 feet of the NS spur line to create separation from Route 42 for installation of the new at-grade crossing. Additionally, existing Pear Street immediately adjacent and parallel to the trestle will be relocated to approximately 450 feet east of Route 42 to a new intersection with improved Erickson Avenue. Pear Street is currently a 20-foot wide asphalt street. Pear Street will be improved to a 30-foot wide street with curb and gutter and will meet current roadway design standards.

Benefits

This project provides substantial improvement and increase in traffic capacity at the Route 42 intersection and approaches. The Erickson Avenue realignment improves the safety for traffic approaching the intersection from the west. The removal of the existing trestle substantially increases the capacity of the east intersection approach and removes an existing safety hazard to the traveling public.

This project is the cornerstone section for improvements to the entire corridor and the first step in connecting the east and west areas of the City of Harrisonburg with an efficient, safe travel facility. Harrisonburg has seen relatively rapid growth in this portion of the City over the past several years.

Contacts

James D. Baker - City of Harrisonburg, 540-434-5928