The St. Joseph’s Villa campus has a new look – and a new traffic flow.

Villa officials announced last week that the facility had completed work on its new perimeter road around the campus, which is located on Brook Road in northern Henrico.

The perimeter road is part of a three-phase construction project designed to create a safer and more therapeutic environment for clients at the Villa. After completion of an infrastructure redevelopment project in fall 2010, work began on the new road, which carries vehicular traffic around the Villa campus. 

Now that the new road is complete, resurfacing work on many existing roads on campus is underway, while other campus roads are being converted into a new pedestrian avenue. That new avenue, which will be free of vehicular traffic, is designed as a safer way for children to travel from building to building amid fresh landscaping that will provide a more tranquil environment for learning.

“We are thrilled that we are at the point of transitioning from one construction phase to another,” said Kathleen Burke Barrett, Chief Executive Officer at St. Joseph’s Villa.  “Now that work can begin on the new pedestrian mall, we know we are getting closer to the day when the ‘new Villa campus’ will be a reality.”

The Villa’s main entrance on Brook Road is closed during work on the new phase of the project, and traffic is being diverted to the new perimeter road.

Work on the Villa’s construction projects has been funded by donors to the Believing is Seeing Campaign, which has raised more than $8.6 million toward a goal of $10 million.

Work on the roads around the Villa entrance is scheduled to take place during the next three months.  During that time, visitors to St. Joseph’s Villa can access the Villa campus (and parking lots) through the south gate (on Brook Road) and a new Parham gate (on Parham Road). 

Visitors may download driving directions from the Construction page on the Villa website, http://www.NeverStopBelieving.org/construction.htm