August 29, 2025
via email:
tl;dr: Construction should be mostly complete by end of 2025. Right-in, Right-out will be interesting. The sidewalk in front of Mudhouse seems wider. 🙂
| Crozet Square & Oak Street Improvements Project: Construction Progress Update |
| As the Crozet Square and Oak Street Improvements Project continues, we are excited to share progress updates and what’s ahead as we move through the remaining stages of the project. This project is part of Albemarle County’s broader vision to create safer, more welcoming public spaces that support a vibrant and accessible community. Since breaking ground in January, construction has moved steadily through the early stages, with access to all businesses maintained throughout. We’ve seen significant progress, and we’re on track to complete the project by the end of 2025. We appreciate our community’s patience as we work to enhance this important area of downtown Crozet. Progress So Far Stage 1 – COMPLETE Improvements to Oak Street; including stormwater upgrades, paving, on street parking spots and sidewalk installation. Stage 2 – COMPLETE Improvements along The Square from Oak Street to the Alley; including stormwater upgrades and a paved path for better access to the Square businesses from Oak Street.  Stage 3 – NEARING COMPLETION Construction improvements on The Square from Crozet Avenue to the Alley; including improvements to the entrance and exit at Crozet Avenue, stormwater upgrades, curb and gutter at the Square parking, upgraded accessible sidewalk along Crozet Avenue and paving and parking space marking. Work also includes removal of sidewalk in front of businesses along The Square and installation of new curb and gutter with accessible sidewalk, stairs, and ramps. Existing utilities will also be upgraded with the installation of new streetlights to replace outdated lighting along the existing sidewalk. What’s Next Stage 4 – STARTING SOON (Beginning September 2025) Sidewalk replacement will continue to the eastern side of the Square past the Alley. Improvements will also include grading, paving, and parking space marking of the full length of the Square. Stage 5 – Beginning Fall 2025 Final paving, signage installation, and road striping will be completed, marking the final phase of the project. Construction work on the The Square project is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2025. Reminders for Anticipated Traffic Impacts During Construction This project was designed to be constructed in stages, limiting the impact on businesses and the community while maintaining traffic and access to local businesses. During all construction phases, access to businesses has remained. As we wrap up the project, please keep in mind the following reminders: Intermittent lane closures and detours will continue as each phase progresses. Please follow posted signage, reduce speed in construction zones, and give crews space to work safely. Access to all businesses and private properties along the corridor remains available throughout the construction period. All construction schedules remain weather-dependent and are subject to change. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the final stages, and thank you for helping make Crozet a safer and more vibrant place for all. Visit our website to stay informed about what to expect in terms of traffic impacts and other remaining key project milestones. Still have questions? Email the Facilities & Environmental Services Department. |
Jim.. you obviously have not spoken to the actual Crozet business owners (face to face), dealing with that snail’s pace of work. The equipment has mostly been idle for a couple of weeks. It has negatively impacted Fardowner’s, Parkway Pharmacy, Crozet Hardware and Mudhouse. Only a small minority of Crozet residents walk to or ride a bike to these businesses. The pace of work on that “project” is like watching cheap paint dry. SMH. Only after 11 years and dozens of drawings and CCAC spending about 300 hours overthinking the project, we see a little slow “work”. Finally getting any “progress” Is something. Try writing the whole truth. Your unconscious bias is showing. The facts don’t lie.
Rich –
Nice straw man. I have not spoken to them, and made no statement that all is great and business is thriving.
It’s common sense that business will suffer when such significant work is ongoing. Also common sense that more people walking and riding to businesses = more revenue and less car parking needed, meaning more people to patronize businesses.
Is progress being made? Yes. Is it slow? Also yes. Can one look at the changes and see that things are changing? Yes again. Has the equipment been idle for weeks? Nope.
I asked these business owners face to face, Jim. Get off your real estate self made perch and go talk to them to face to face. I do it all the time. You are gaslighting, because the whole truth is not in your “messaging” and quite frankly you are out of touch with local business realities. Good luck with that, mentality. Unfortunately, I think you are too arrogant to have more balance in your articles. Are you selling the”Crozet United” group through rose colored glasses or are you interested in telling the whole truth? The good and the bad. And yes, those heavy pieces of equipment in the parking area in front of the hardware store have been sitting mostly idle for 2-3 weeks. Keep your head in the sand or get all the facts. The community deserves a more balanced truthful view.
Thanks Rich.
Annoyingly, my new theme prevents me from editing this post (working on it) to give credit to the County for the press release, which many have likely seen elsewhere.
Please, tell me more about the delays in construction and my gaslighting.
Shorter story could have been: The Square construction continues, will be done (hopefully) by end of year.
11 years = multiple delays of any construction (of anything). And it has been mostly idle for the past 2-3 weeks. I am not imagining that, Jim. Apparently, you still don’t take constructive criticism very well. If you do that going forward, you might learn something new and take a more balanced approach, to your reporting. I know I would appreciate that. I would think others would as well. Listening to understand is the first step. Peace.
You make a good point. The fact that an unelected committee is even mentioned with this project shows the absolute stupidity of the whole thing. It is time for this charade to end and to have competent elected officials lead our community. Small children can spend 300 hours accomplishing more than this bunch. No matter what happens though these migrants just keep coming…
On this, I don’t disagree. I feel the CACs remain valuable for information dissemination and community building for those who participate, but for legislative opining, notsomuch.
The CCAC Only speaks for themselves and it is wrong to think anything else. The only local business left on the Square is Crozet Hardware. All stand to benefit greatly from the migrant explosion and improvements to infrastructure. Most of y’all thought that the Municipal building was a great idea, now, after multiple screwups and a wasted ton of money what do we have? When the loudmouth pissed the railroad off and screwed up the whole Square situation people took it in stride. I suggest the same attitude now. This is the only local website that comes close to facts without a ton of opinion. Once the Disneyland approach is finished on the square it will be hard for some life long residents to even look at. This area has suffered through every ridiculous expansion a really nice area should have to go through and has succeeded in driving out a large part of the local population. Actual local people did not do this and this website is not the problem…