Published June 23, 2005 in issue 0425 of The Hook

A dump truck moves earth at the site of the North Grounds Connector just before the detonation of rock-breaking explosive charges Thursday, June 9. "This is getting annoying," says road-blocked driver Donny Layne, "and it's awful for my work schedule." Layne was among hundreds of drivers caught behind the rolling roadblock, a safety related stoppage lasting several minutes on Route 250. This was the third of four closures occasioned by blasting that's making the path clear for the Connector, UVA's $4.1 entrance to the John Paul Jones Arena. The first two blasts occurred May 26 and June 2. The final blasting took place Friday, June 17.

--TEXT AND PHOTO BY SUSAN ANSPACH

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