ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SUNDAY, April 17, 1994                   TAG: 9404170011
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


ROADWATCH

Here are highway and street projects scheduled for this week by the Virginia Department of Transportation and area localities. Schedules are subject to change due to weather and contractors.

\ BEDFORD COUNTY

\ Virginia 43: The weight limit for the bridge about 6 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway has been lowered from 14 tons to 10 tons while repairs are being made. Signs are posted. Work should be finished in one week.

\ U.S. 221: The road is being widened from two lanes to five in Forest from Graves Mill Road into Lynchburg. Construction should be completed this summer.

\ 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 1995.

\ 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. Use caution and watch for signs and flaggers. Work will continue until spring 1995.

\ Virginia 605: In Cloverdale, about 1.4 miles 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.

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

\ U.S. 11: The bridge at Buchanan over the James River and CSX Railroad is under repair with traffic reduced to one lane.

\ FRANKLIN COUNTY

Virginia 220: The southbound bridges at the intersection of Virginia 40 near Rocky Mount are being repaired. Traffic is restricted to one lane. Vehicles wider than 9 feet are prohibited. Repairs should be completed by July 1.

\ GILES COUNTY

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

\ U.S. 460 and Virginia 100: The traffic signal at the intersection near the Pearisburg courthouse is being replaced. Work should be completed in a few weeks.

\ U.S. 460 and Virginia 61: The traffic signal is working but crews are cleaning the area. Work will be completed in two weeks.

\ HENRY COUNTY

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

\ U.S. 220: The road is being resurfaced near Ridgeway. Motorists may experience delays.

\ Virginia 57: The road is being resurfaced near Bassett. Motorists may experience delays.

\ MONTGOMERY COUNTY

U.S. 460: The westbound lanes north of Blacksburg are being resurfaced. Motorists may experience delays. MONTGOMERY/PULASKI COUNTY LINE

\ Virginia 232: The bridge over Interstate 81 at exit 105 is closed for repairs. Northbound motorists cannot enter or exit I-81. Use exit 109 to Radford. Work will continue through the spring. ROANOKE

\ Main Street: Paving will begin Monday between Wasena and Sherwood avenues. The road is open, but expect delays. Work should be completed by Wednesday.

\ Fifth Street: The Fifth Street bridge is closed due to continuing construction of a new bridge between Salem and Gilmer avenues. Work should be completed by the summer.

\ Wells Avenue: Demolition work along the north side between Williamson Road and Jefferson Street will cause delays. Work should be completed around June 1.

\ ROANOKE COUNTY

U.S. 11: Williamson Road (U.S. 11) from Plantation Road one mile north is being widened and a new traffic signal installed. Estimated completion date is summer 1995.

\ U.S. 11/460: The road is being widened from Harborwood Road to the Blue Jay Motel, near Dixie Caverns.

\ 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: At the Montgomery County line, the bridge over the Roanoke River and Norfolk Southern tracks is under repair. Two-way traffic is using the eastbound lane while repairs are being made on the westbound side. Speed limit is reduced to 45 mph. Vehicles wider than 9 feet are prohibited. Work to replace the bridge's deck will last through spring.

\ Virginia 419: The intersections with Colonial Avenue and Keagy Road are being changed for better traffic flow.

\ Virginia 615: The bridge on Starlight Lane over Back Creek is being replaced. Motorists need to use alternate routes for about a month. Completion is expected in late summer.

\ Virginia 618: Rutrough Road is being widened from Virginia 658 to Virginia 709. Motorists should expect delays. Work should be completed in June.



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