The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has selected the joint venture (JV) of Skanska-Branch/JMT in a bidding process for a $136m contract to design, engineer and build the Route 29 Charlottesville Bypass in Virginia, US.

The Route 29 Charlottesville Bypass project aims to improve the effectiveness and safety of the existing corridor, as well as cover and improve the gaps in the ongoing improvements to the route through central Virginia.

As part of the contract, the JV will construct a new 6.2-mile, four-lane, limited-access roadway from Route 29 just north of the South Fork Rivanna river to the Route 29/250 Bypass in Albemarle County.

Virginia Department of Transportation commissioner Greg Whirley said that the CTB’s action today is an important step in moving this project to completion.

"The Route 29 Charlottesville Bypass will alleviate congestion and increase safety along Albemarle county’s important commercial corridor and help ensure the viability of this critical transportation corridor into the future."

"The Route 29 Charlottesville Bypass will alleviate congestion and increase safety along Albemarle county’s important commercial corridor and help ensure the viability of this critical transportation corridor into the future," he said.

Also included in the project is providing an alternate route for the regional traffic that will avoid the existing developed corridor along Route 29 to the north of Charlottesville city.

The JV can start construction of the bypass following the scheduled completion of the re-evaluation process of the National Environmental Protection Act.

The Skanska-Branch/JMT JV was one of the seven bidders for the design and build contract and the bid ranged from $136m to $214m.

CTB regulates and funds transportation in Virginia and oversees the county’s department of transportation.