ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SUNDAY, May 22, 1994                   TAG: 9405220004
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E-7   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.

\ BEDFORD COUNTY

U.S. 221: The road is being widened from two lanes to five in Forest from Graves Mill Road into Lynchburg. Weather permitting, starting Tuesday, traffic will use a 1.2-mile section starting near the intersection of U.S. 221 and Virginia 501. 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. 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. 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

U.S. 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 8.5 feet are prohibited. Repairs should be completed 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.

\ 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.

\ MONTGOMERY COUNTY Interstate 81: Work should be completed Monday on

resurfacing of southbound lanes between mileposts 120 and 118. Resurfacing will start in the northbound lanes between Exits 109 and 114.

\ U.S. 460: One lane of traffic will be open in each direction from the Blacksburg bypass to Prices Fork Road. A detour is marked. The bike trail and unpaved road between Smithfield Plantation and Plantation Road are closed. Completion date is early August.

\ PATRICK COUNTY

Virginia 680: In Patrick Springs, 0.6 miles north of U.S. 58 to 0.2 miles south of Virginia 691 are being widened. Estimated completion is September.

\ U.S. 58: The road is being resurfaced up Lovers Leap Mountain to the Floyd County line. Motorists may experience delays.

\ Virginia 103: From Virginia 663 to the North Carolina state line, the road is being resurfaced. Motorists may experience delays.

\ PULASKI COUNTY

Interstate 81: Crews are clearing brush along the southbound lanes near Exit 94. The shoulder will be closed adjacent to the work area.

\ ROANOKE

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 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.

\ Wells Avenue: The road will be closed from Commonwealth Avenue to Jefferson Street for work on the roadway project. A detour will be set up between Wells and Shenandoah Avenues through the Hotel Roanoke parking lot for motorists and pedestrians.

\ ROANOKE COUNTY

Interstate 81: Crews are clearing brush along the southbound shoulder south of Exit 140. The shoulder is closed adjacent to the work area.

\ U.S. 11/460: In the Dixie Caverns area, from Harborwood Road to west of the Blue Jay Motel, the road is being widened.

\ U.S. 11: Williamson Road (U.S. 11) from Plantation Road one mile north is being widened. A new traffic pattern is in place, with one lane of traffic flowing in each direction.

\ 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.

\ Virginia 419: The intersections with Colonial Avenue and Keagy Road are being changed for better traffic flow. Installation of a new traffic signal at Keagy Road will be done Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be lane closures and temporary delays.

\ Virginia 419 and Chaparral Drive: Tuesday from 9 to 11 a.m., temporary closures at the intersection will be necessary for traffic signal maintenance. There may be minor delays.

\ Virginia 615: The bridge on Starlight Lane over Back Creek is reopened to traffic. Completion of the bridge replacement 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.

\ Virginia 639: Near the Spring Hollow Reservoir, a bridge is being replaced with a box culvert. One-third of a mile is being widened.



 by CNB