Albemarle County, VA… July 25, 2025… Faulconer Construction will begin controlled rock blasting as part of an ongoing Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority’s (RWSA) project to install new drinking water piping to serve the Route 29 North area. Blasting is needed in portions of Old Rio Mills Road to help break and excavate rock more efficiently. All work has been carefully and conservatively designed by RWSA’s consultant Engineer to protect property.
Three blasts are planned for Monday, July 28, with the first expected at 10:00 AM. The process involves drilling into rock and setting small charges. Heavy mats are laid across the surface to prevent loose debris from leaving the site. Prior to each blast, a localized siren will go off to signal the impending detonation. Each blast may generate a sound level up to 120 decibels and cause minor localized ground vibrations.
Immediately before the controlled blast, a temporary road closure may occur on the Berkmar Drive Bridge over the South Fork Rivanna River as a safety precaution. The closure will occur roughly five minutes before detonation. Berkmar Drive will reopen after the blast has occurred.
Project Background
The South Rivanna River Crossing Project links the South Rivanna Water Treatment Plant to Hollymead Town Center by installing a new 24-inch water pipe below the South Fork Rivanna River and Old Rio Mills Road. This new pipe will augment the existing 12-inch river crossing pipe, ensuring a reliable supply of fresh drinking water to northern Albemarle County communities. The project aims to enhance the capacity, redundancy, and resilience of the local water infrastructure.
Faulconer Construction Company of Charlottesville was awarded the project in September 2024. Construction is expected to be completed by January 2027. The project’s total cost is $6 million.
[Photo] Old Rio Mills Road is prepped for controlled blasting. Holes are drilled into the rock to give a place for the explosives to sit.
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The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority & Solid Waste Authority’s mission is to serve the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and UVA communities by providing high-quality water and wastewater treatment, refuse, and recycling services in a financially responsible and sustainable manner.
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority provides wholesale water and sewer services to the Charlottesville Department of Utilities and Albemarle County Service Authority.
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority manages five reservoirs, nine dams, six drinking water treatment plants, five finished water pumping stations, eleven water storage tanks, four advanced water resource recovery facilities (wastewater treatment plants), and nine wastewater pumping stations.
In 2024, the Authority processed an average of 10.2 million gallons of drinking water and 10.2 million gallons of wastewater each day.
Contact:
Westley Kern
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority
434-977-2970, Ext. 117
wkern@rivanna.org