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

DATE: SUNDAY, August 14, 1994                   TAG: 9408150039
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

ROADWATCH

BEDFORD COUNTY

U.S. 221: In Forest from Graves Mill Road into Lynchburg, the road is being widened. The intersection of U.S. 221 and Virginia 501 is being paved. Work should be finished this week. Motorists should consider alternate routes as major delays are expected.

Virginia 614: A bridge between Virginia 43 and 680 is closed during repairs. Detours are set up. Work will be completed in September.

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.

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. The road is closed to through traffic until Tuesday. Motorists should watch for signs and flaggers. Work will continue until spring 1995.

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 summer.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Virginia 605: In Henry, 0.7 mile is being widened starting at the west intersection of Virginia 606 to Virginia 769. Work will continue until fall.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

U.S. 460: From the Blacksburg bypass to Prices Fork Road on Virginia 314, one lane of traffic will be open in each direction due to pipe replacement. A detour is marked. The bike trail and unpaved road between Smithfield Plantation and Plantation Road are closed. Work should be finished this week.

#Interstate 81: Crews are clearing brush. The shoulder will be closed adjacent to the work area.

PULASKI COUNTY

Interstate 81 Crews are clearing brush along southbound lanes. 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 during the summer.

Wells Avenue: The road is closed from First Street to Commonwealth Avenue while construction is under way to widen the road to four lanes. The right off-ramp from southbound Interstate 581 (downtown) will be closed Monday through Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect delays. Flaggers will be directing traffic.

#Interstate 581: The portion of downtown Exit 5 leading to Wells Avenue will be closed from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Thursday. The other portion leading to Williamson Road will be open.

ROANOKE COUNTY

#Virginia 419 and U.S. 221: At the Brambleton Avenue intersection, temporary lane closures may occur due to traffic signal replacement. Work will take about a month.

#Interstate 81: The interchanges from Exit 137 at Salem to the Montgomery County line are being paved at night with traffic reduced to one lane. Work should be completed this month.

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 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.

U.S. 11/460: At the Montgomery County line, the bridge over the Roanoke River and Norfolk Southern tracks is under repair. One lane of traffic is open in each direction while work is under way on the center median barrier. Speed limit is reduced to 45 mph. Vehicles wider than 9 feet are prohibited. Work should be completed next month.

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 639: 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.

Virginia 1602: The upper end of Virginia 1602 (Bunker Hill Drive) behind the old Roanoke County administrative offices will be closed to through traffic starting this week while construction to widen the lower end of Virginia 1602 (Valley Forge Avenue) is under way.

SALEM

#Parkdale Drive The 400 block will be closed for demolition and replacement of the bridge over Gish Branch. Motorists must take detours. Work will be completed in 45 days.

#DISTRICTWIDE

#Interstate 81:For the next several months, motorists should use extreme caution and slow down because of mobile mowing operations (not extending more than 15 minutes in an immediate area) occurring along the highway.