Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 21, 1994 TAG: 9408210069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
BEDFORD COUNTY
\ U.S. 221: In Forest from Graves Mill Road into Lynchburg, the road is being widened. Construction should be completed in late summer.
\ Virginia 614: A bridge between Virginia 43 and 680 is closed during repairs. Detours are set up. Work should 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.
\ Virginia 619: The pipe carrying Bore Auger Creek is being replaced with a bridge 0.6 miles west of Virginia 616. Work will continue into the spring.
BOTETOURT COUNTY
\ I-81: Near mile marker 165, the left southbound lane of the bridge crossing the James River and Virginia 43 will be closed. Speed limit is reduced to 55 mph. Temporary lane closures will occur on both north- and southbound bridges throughout the week.
\ 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 the 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 mile north of Virginia 696 to 0.2 mile 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 summer. FRANKLIN COUNTY
\ Virginia 605: In Henry, 0.7 miles are being widened starting at the west intersection of Virginia 606 to Virginia 769. Work will continue until 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 the fall. MONTGOMERY COUNTY
\ U.S. 460: From the Blacksburg bypass to Prices Fork Road on Virginia 314, all lanes are open in each direction following pipe replacement. Cleanup will take place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. this week.
\ I-81: There will be temporary lane closures on U.S. 460 while the bridge at Exit 118 (Christiansburg) is being painted.
\ U.S. 460: The eastbound lanes from Virginia 808 to Virginia 777 are being paved. Motorists may experience delays.
MONTGOMERY/PULASKI COUNTY
\ I-81: From Exit 98 at Dublin to Exit 118 at Christiansburg, the shoulder will be closed at various locations for installation of fencing.
PATRICK COUNTY
\ Virginia 680: In Patrick County, about 1.3 miles are being widened. Work starts 0.6 mile north of U.S. 58 and ends 0.2 mile south of Virginia 691. Work should be completed next month.
\ Virginia 744: The road is closed from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Virginia 600 for replacement of a low-water bridge. The road should reopen in about a month.
ROANOKE
\ Fifth Street: A new Fifth Street bridge is being built between Salem and Gilmer avenues. Shenandoah Avenue is closed for reconstruction of the intersection with Fifth Street. The bridge is scheduled to reopen Aug. 31.
\ Wells Avenue: The road is closed from First Street to Commonwealth Avenue and between Williamson Road and Commonwealth Avenue while the road is widened to four lanes. As a result, the detour between Wells Avenue and Shenandoah Avenue also will be closed temporarily.
\ Interstate 581: The portion of downtown Exit 5 leading to Wells Avenue will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through at least Tuesday. The other portion, leading to Williamson Road, will be open.
ROANOKE COUNTY
\ Virginia 419 and U.S. 221: At Brambleton Avenue, temporary lane closures may occur for traffic signal replacement. Work should take about a month.
\ U.S. 460: In the Dixie Caverns area, from Harborwood Road to near 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. 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. 460 near 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 during the widening of the lower end of Virginia 1602 (Valley Forge Avenue).
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.
by CNB