ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994                   TAG: 9406260006
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


ROADWATCH

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. Traffic is using a new mile-long section of the road, 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. 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. The road is closed until Aug. 15 for construction of a new bridge. 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.

\ 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. 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

\ U.S. 460: One lane of traffic will be open in each direction from the Blacksburg bypass to Prices Fork Road. A detour is clearly 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 from Virginia 8 to the Floyd County line. PULASKI COUNTY

\ I-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. Shenandoah Avenue is closed for reconstruction of the intersection with Fifth Street. Work should be completed this summer.

\ 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 parking lot for motorists and pedestrians. The closure will remain in effect until March 1995.

\ Granby Street Northeast: The street is closed between Sleepy Drive and Mary Linda Avenue. ROANOKE COUNTY

\ I-81: The southbound lanes from Exit 37 to the Montgomery County line are being paved at night with traffic reduced to one lane. Work should be completed in July.

\ 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. Vehicles wider than 9 feet are prohibited from Virginia 115 to Virginia 601. Estimated completion date is summer 1995.

\ 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: A new traffic signal is operating at the intersection of Virginia 419 and Keagy Road near the Allstate building.

\ Virginia 615: The bridge on Starlight Lane over Back Creek is being replaced. Traffic is using a temporary detour. Completion of the bridge replacement is expected in late summer.

\ Virginia 618: Rutrough Road is being widened from Virginia 658 to Virginia 709. Work should be completed in July.

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

\ North Mill Road: The road will be closed to through traffic Thursday for the demolition and construction of bridges in the 800 and 900 blocks. Valleydale Road, east of Texas Hollow Road, will be closed in the 2200 block for the demolition and construction of a bridge. Work is expected to be completed in 45 days.



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