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

DATE: SUNDAY, September 25, 1994                   TAG: 9409280038
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

ROADWATCH

#indicates new information .

BEDFORD COUNTY

#U.S. 221: In Forest from Graves Mill Road into Lynchburg, the road is being widened. Construction should be completed by the end of the month.

U.S. 501: The road is being widened in selected locations from the Georgia-Pacific plant to the Snowden Bridge over the James River in Amherst County. Temporary traffic delays may occur. Construction is estimated to last into the fall.

Virginia 715: One lane is closed between U.S. 460 and Virginia 784. Work will be completed in about a week.

BOTETOURT COUNTY

Alternate U.S. 220: 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.

U.S. 220: A 1.4-mile section 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 the fall.

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

U.S. 11: The bridge at Buchanan over the James River and CSX Railroad is under repair with traffic reduced to one lane. Vehicles wider than 11 feet are prohibited. The work will last into late the fall.

#U.S. 11: The bridge over Looney Mill Creek is under repair. Temporary traffic signals will be installed and traffic will be reduced to one lane. Speed limit is reduced to 35 mph. Vehicles wider than 11 feet will be prohibited from about 0.4 miles north of the intersection of I-81 at exit 162 to just south of the intersection of I-81 at exit 167.

#Virginia 606: Northwest of Fincastle, the bridge near the intersection of Virginia 666 will be closed Tuesday from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

CARROLL COUNTY

#Virginia 713: Near Pipers Gap, a section of the road will be closed beginning Monday for replacement of a bridge starting 0.5 mile north of the Virginia 683 intersection. Detours are marked. Work should be completed by the end of the year.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Virginia 605: In Henry, the road is being widened from Virginia 606 to 0.7 mile east of Virginia 605. Motorists should expect delays. Work will continue this fall.

Virginia 619: From the Henry County line to Virginia 890, 2.4 miles are being widened and paved. Expect minor delays. Work should be completed by May.

Virginia 824: From U.S. 220 to its end, Virginia 824 is being widened. Work will continue through the fall.

GILES COUNTY

U.S. 460: Both westbound lanes between Narrows and Rick Creek are closed. Traffic has been shifted into the eastbound lanes. Vehicles wider than 10 feet are prohibited. Work should be completed in a few months.

HENRY COUNTY

U.S. 58: The 3.3 miles from Horsepasture to Spencer are being widened. Construction will continue through fall.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

#Interstate 81: The bridge at exit 114 (Virginia 8, Christiansburg) is being painted. There may be temporary lane closures.

#U.S. 460: On Thursday and Friday, temporary lane closures may occur on the bridge over the N & W Railway and on the bridge over Virginia 723.

MONTGOMERY/PULASKI COUNTIES

#Interstate 81: From Monday-Thursday, traffic on the southbound bridge over the New River will be reduced to one lane.

PATRICK COUNTY

#U.S. 58: West of Stuart, the road is being resurfaced in Lover's Leap Mountain area. Motorists may experience delays.

PULASKI COUNTY

#U.S. 11: From Dublin to the Pulaski County line, the westbound lanes will be paved. Motorists may experience delays.

ROANOKE

Fifth Street: The new Fifth Street bridge is open to traffic. Temporary delays may occur during clean up.

Wells Avenue: The road is closed from First Street to Commonwealth Avenue while the road is widened.

ROANOKE COUNTY

Virginia 419 and 720 (Colonial Avenue): The traffic signals are being replaced and an additional turn lane is being added to allow left turns from Colonial Avenue to Virginia 419.

U.S. 11: Williamson Road (U.S. 11) from Plantation Road 1 mile north is being widened. A new traffic pattern is in place, with one lane of traffic flowing in each direction. Vehicles wider than 9 feet are prohibited from Plantation Road to Virginia 601. Estimated completion is summer 1995.

Virginia 639: On West River Road near the Spring Hollow Reservoir, a bridge is being replaced with a box culvert. One-third mile is being widened.

Virginia 830: Motorists should be alert to construction traffic along U.S. 11/460 near the intersection with Virginia 612, Poor Mountain Road. A new access road is being built at Valley Techpark in west Roanoke County.