Reservoir Street serves as an important link connecting Rockingham County and the southern end of the city with James Madison University and downtown Harrisonburg. It is located in a rapidly growing part of the region. Numerous developments along Reservoir Street and surrounding area are in various stages of construction including several new apartment and townhouse complexes within city limits. Sentara RMH (Rockingham Memorial Hospital) is located south of city limits in Rockingham County and continues to attract new traffic to Reservoir Street.

Project Updates

Proposed Improvements

Project History

UPDATE - The Public Works Department is moving forward with the next steps of the Reservoir Street Improvement project. Construction is underway. The project will widen Reservoir Street from the east City limits to University Boulevard and is anticipated to be completed by December 2017.

October 3, 2017:

Starting Thursday, October 5, the signal at the intersection of Reservoir Street and Lucy Drive will go into operation. Motorists are encouraged to use caution and pay close attention to the new traffic pattern at this intersection. Also starting on Thursday, new traffic lanes will be marked from Stonewall Drive, north to Neff Avenue.

In the coming weeks, the second traffic signal at the intersection of Reservoir Street and Stonewall Drive will go into operation.

May 15, 2017:

Starting this weekend, there will be a temporary road closure to allow crews to lower the existing roadway grade in this area.

Reservoir Street, from Lucy Drive to Neff Avenue, will be closed from Friday, May 19 at 6:00pm until Monday, May 22 at 7:00am.

Once the roadway reopens on Monday, May 22, the first in a series of transitions in traffic patterns will take place. Motorists will begin following the new traffic lanes on Reservoir Street, from Lucy to Stonewall drives.

Although the new traffic signal at the intersection of Reservoir Street and Lucy Drive has been installed, it will not be activated until late November.

March 31, 2017:

Public Works, in partnership with the general contractor, have delayed the upcoming paving operations on Reservoir Street.

Due to the amount of rain that the area received today, the paving operation will be delayed next week. Crews were unable to complete work in preparation of the paving that was going to take place starting Monday night.

The paving operation will now begin on Tuesday, April 4 and will take place during nighttime hours.

This schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen maintenance on equipment.

March 29, 2017:

Beginning on April 3 and continuing all month, crews will be milling and paving Reservoir Street, from Evelyn Byrd to Neff avenues. The paving operations will take place overnight, Monday through Thursday nights, to impact the least amount of traffic.

Throughout the month of April, the contractor will also be completing the curb and gutter along Neff Avenue and the curb, gutter, and sidewalk on the west side of Reservoir Street, from Lucy to Stonewall drives. This work will take place during the day.

Motorists can expect to see flagging operations on a daily basis throughout the project area during the month of April and are encouraged to be alert and slow down when driving through the work zone.

October 21, 2016: Crews will be removing the existing signal poles at the intersection of University Boulevard and Reservoir Street on Monday, October 24 at 7pm until Tuesday, October 25 at 5am. During this time, there will be periodic lane closures. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes while this nighttime work is taking place and use caution when driving in this area.

October 14, 2016:

On Sunday, October 16 from 7:00pm until 3:00am, the project’s general contractor will be working at the intersection of University Boulevard and Reservoir Street.

The remaining signal mast arms will be installed and during that process the intersection will be temporarily closed to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes while this nighttime work is taking place and use caution when driving in this area.

Next week, crews will also work to install a sidewalk on Neff Avenue, from Reservoir Street to Medical Avenue. On the opposite side of Reservoir Street, on Neff Avenue going westbound, the curb, sidewalks, and storm sewer infrastructure will be installed. At various times next week, portions of Neff Avenue may be closed.

October 11, 2016: Nighttime work will take place on October 11 at the intersection of Reservoir Street and University Boulevard from 7pm until 3am. Crews will continue to install the signal mast arms as part of the Reservoir Street improvement project. Motorists are encouraged to use caution and drive slow as there will be some temporary closures.

[168KB] October 3, 2016 Press Release - Nighttime Work to be Completed along Reservoir Street



September 27, 2016:

Most utility work is completed in the University Boulevard area. Concrete sidewalks, entrances, and curb and gutter have also been installed on University Boulevard in the Reservoir area. Stormsewer lines are being constructed on the west side of Reservoir between University and Neff Avenues as well as from Woodland Drive heading south to Ridgeville. Earthwork and grading has taken place project wide including the construction of the stormwater management facility located just south of Woodland.

The mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall is being installed in the Costco parking lot in the area of their original entrance. Two segmental block retaining walls have been completed at the southwest corner of University and Reservoir in the area of Costco as well. Water line installation has also begun on the east side of Reservoir between Neff Avenue and Lucy Drive.

The signal subcontractor has installed pole foundations, poles and conduits at all 4 intersections (University, Neff, Lucy, and Stonewall). They plan to install the signal mast arms for the poles at the University intersection this week.

[167KB] September 26, 2016 Press Release - Nighttime Work to be Done along Reservoir Street *Rescheduled for October 4, 2016

[173KB] May 18, 2016 Press Release - Progress Continues along Reservoir Street

[2MB] March 25, 2016 Press Release - Changes to Traffic Pattern for Reservoir Street Improvements

February 11, 2016 - The Public Works Department has awarded the construction contract to A&J Development and Excavating of Mt Crawford, VA and the contract amount is $10,139,986.49.

What Will Reservoir Street Look Like?

The proposed improvements for this project will run from the intersection at University Boulevard to the East City limits.

Improvements will include:

Reservoir Street from City Limits to Neff Avenue

Widen the existing two lane roadway to a four-lane roadway with 11' lanes, a 14' raised center median, and turning lanes.

Curb and gutter will be maintained throughout the corridor.

Pedestrian facilities will include a 4' bike lane and 5' sidewalk on each side of the roadway.

Reservoir Street from Neff Avenue to University Boulevard

Widen the existing four lane roadway to a five-lane roadway with 11' lanes, a center turning lane, and turning lanes at the intersections.

Curb and gutter will be maintained throughout the corridor.

Pedestrian facilities will include a 5' sidewalk on each side of the roadway.

Neff Avenue

Turning lanes will be added to the intersection with Reservoir Street.

Pedestrian facilities will include 4' bike lanes on each side of the roadway to the west of Reservoir Street, as well as 5' sidewalks at select locations to complete the existing network.

University Boulevard

Turning lanes will be added to the intersection with Reservoir Street.

Pedestrian facilities will include 5' sidewalks on each side of the roadway.

Project History

September 2006 - the City of Harrisonburg selected the firm of McCormick Taylor to study this corridor and lead the engineering design and environmental tasks associated with improvements to the corridor.

April 2007 - The Threshold Analysis was completed and the report concluded that there is a clear need to address the capacity needs of the existing road now by expanding it to five lanes between Neff Avenue and the city limits. Harrisonburg City Council approved the project team to move forward with preliminary design of the widening of Reservoir Street to a five-lane cross section.

January 2008 - A Citizen Information Meeting was held to begin discussion on the design features being considered for the corridor and receive public input on the project.

June 2008 - A Design Public Information Meeting was held to provide the public an opportunity to review and comment on design features being considered for the corridor including roadway typical section and proposed bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

July 2008 - After a review of the comments received at the Design Public Information Meeting the preliminary plans were finalized and the Harrisonburg City Council approved the preliminary design. City Council gave approval to the Design Team to begin development of right of way plans.

July 2008 - August 2010 - Utility Coordination to determine utility relocation and easement requirements.

August 24, 2010 - City Council approved the right of way plans for the Reservoir Street Improvement Project.

August 23, 2011- City Council approved initiation of right of way and easement acquisition.

September 2011 to Present - Negotiation for right of way and easements between City and property owners underway.

January 2014 to Present - Utilities (electric, gas, telecommunications, etc.) relocation underway.

Questions? Contact Tom Hartman, PE, at Tom.Hartman@harrisonburgva.gov.