CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Summer construction has brought a major traffic disruption to Charlottesville as crews begin work on “The Verve,” a new student housing development located just off Emmet Street in the Jefferson Park Avenue corridor.

As part of the construction, teams are installing an upgraded stormwater drainage system to support the high-density residential complex. To accommodate this infrastructure work, a stretch of Emmet Street between Stadium Road and Jefferson Park Avenue is now closed to through traffic and will remain shut down until August 15, according to city officials.

“There will be some detours in place, and we encourage folks to pay attention to those and avoid the area if at all possible,” said Caleb Smith, a traffic engineer with the city. “It will be a little more congested than usual, and the less folks involved, the better.”

The City of Charlottesville scheduled the road closure during the University of Virginia’s summer break to minimize the impact on student travel and campus operations. The timing is part of a broader effort to fast-track urban development while reducing disruption to daily life.

Even with fewer students in town, however, local businesses are still navigating challenges brought by the temporary closure. Just steps away from the construction site, Oakhurst Café is trying to stay visible to customers despite reduced foot traffic and street accessibility.

“Two months is pretty considerable,” said Reid Owen, the café’s operations manager. “With UVA students being out, that’s a lot of our foot traffic. That being said, we have a great community around us that’s able to walk here. I don’t want people to forget about us — I want them to keep coming in.”

The Verve project, when completed, is expected to provide hundreds of housing units for students, along with amenities that include retail space, improved streetscaping, and new pedestrian infrastructure. The storm drain upgrades are essential for the area’s long-term resilience, helping to mitigate runoff and reduce localized flooding during heavy rains.

City officials say signage and alternative routes are in place, and they’re encouraging both drivers and pedestrians to follow updates throughout the summer.

Further information about detours and construction timelines can be found on the City of Charlottesville’s official website

Originally reported by Mark Gad in CBS 19 News.