ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 21, 1993                   TAG: 9311210011
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


ROADWATCH

Here are highway and street projects scheduled this week by area localities and the Virginia Department of Transportation: ROANOKE\

\ Fifth Street bridge construction: A new four-lane bridge is being built between Salem and Gilmer avenues. It should be completed by summer.

\ Main Street: A portion of Main Street Southwest between Winona and Brandon avenues is partially closed for about three weeks for the installation of a water-line. Traffic will be restricted to one lane, with workers stopping vehicles alternately in each direction.

\ Hollins Road: Between Orange Avenue and the bridge over the Norfolk Southern tracks, new water-lines are being installed, and long traffic delays are anticipated. Valley Metro's 3C/3D bus route will detour between Liberty and Plantation roads. Passengers may catch the bus on Liberty Road. The work will continue until late December.\ \ ROANOKE COUNTY\ \ Hunting Hills subdivision improvements: Buckhorn Road, Crossbow Circle, Chukar Drive, Archer Drive, Red Stag Road, Elk Hill Drive and Flintlock Road are getting new drainage facilities and surfaces and are being graded to enhance sight distances. Work is expected to last until spring.

\ U.S. 11/460 bridge: At the Montgomery County line, the bridge over the Roanoke River and the Norfolk Southern tracks is under repair. Two-way traffic is using the westbound lane while repairs are made on the eastbound side. Speed limit is reduced to 45 mph. Vehicles wider than 9 feet are prohibited. Work to replace the bridge's deck will last until spring.\ \ BOTETOURT COUNTY\ \ Alternate U.S. 220 widening: The final 1.8 miles are being expanded to a four-lane divided highway, ending at U.S. 460 in Roanoke County. Be alert for signs and flaggers. Temporary delays may occur. Work should be completed in spring 1995.

\ U.S. 220 reconstruction: 1.4 miles south of the new bridge near Iron Gate is under construction to eliminate a sharp curve. Work runs from 0.3 miles north of Virginia 696 to 0.2 miles south of the CSX Railroad tracks. Work should be completed in fall 1994.

\ Virginia 654 (Read Mountain Road) widening: In the Cloverdale area, 1.8 miles are being widened from east of U.S. 11 to Alternate U.S. 220. Use caution and watch for signs and flaggers. Work will continue until spring 1995.

\ Virginia 605 reconstruction: In Cloverdale, about 1.4 miles of Virginia 605 are being rebuilt from Virginia 601 in Roanoke County to Virginia 654 in Botetourt County. A one-lane bridge will be replaced with a box culvert. Work will continue into the spring.

\ Virginia 642 reconstruction: Near Buchanan, 2.2 miles of Virginia 642 are being rebuilt from U.S. 11 to Virginia 638. Work will continue until late spring.

\ Virginia 11 bridge at Buchanan: The bridge over the James River and CSX Railroad is under repair with traffic reduced to one lane. The work will continue until spring.\ \ BEDFORD\ \ Virginia 122 reconstruction: About four-tenths of a mile of Virginia 122 is being rebuilt, from a half-mile mile north of the intersection of Orange Street and Longwood Avenue. The new road will be paved with asphalt concrete; the project includes new traffic signals. Work will continue through the end of the year.\ \ BEDFORD COUNTY\ \ Virginia 43 bridge weight-limit reduction: The weight limit for a bridge on northbound Virginia 43, about 6.1 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, has been lowered from 14 tons to 10 tons while repairs are being made. Weight-limit signs are posted.

\ U.S. 221 widening in Forest: From Forest to Lynchburg, the road is being widened from two lanes to five. Two-way traffic has been temporarily routed over the new bridge while construction continues. A stoplight at Enterprise Road is not in use; drivers should watch for stop signs. Work is estimated to be completed in December.

\ Virginia 614 bridge replacement: A bridge over Sheep Creek in the Thaxton area is being replaced, and the road is closed. Work should be completed by the end of December.\ \ CHRISTIANSBURG\ \ U.S. 460 Business widening: Westbound U.S. 460 Business is being widened to two lanes from Cambria Street to the western crossover at Palmer Street. Also, the right-turn lane from westbound U.S. 460 Business onto the U.S. 460 bypass is being extended. The project is expected to last another month.\ \ MONTGOMERY COUNTY\ \ I-81 paving: The far right southbound lane between mileposts 125 and 126 will be paved Monday and Tuesday. Watch for signs, barrels and flaggers.

\ Virginia 8 paving: Shoulder work continues from Route 670 to the Floyd County line. Work should be completed by the end of the month.

\ Virginia 460 shoulder work: Shoulder work on the westbound lane near the Giles County line will continue until the end of the month.\ PULASKI COUNTY\ \ I-81 bridge approach work: Road surfaces on both sides of bridges are being paved on northbound and southbound lanes from the Montgomery County line to the Wythe County line. Work will continue until the end of the month.



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