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

DATE: FRIDAY, July 21, 1995                   TAG: 9507210052
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

Branch Highways Inc. of Roanoke was awarded a $6.7 million contract Thursday by the Commonwealth Transportation Board to widen and replace north- and southbound bridges on Interstate 81 over Mason Creek in Roanoke County.

During construction of the bridges, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction, a state spokesman said. The work will take about a year.

In all, the board during its regular monthly meeting in Richmond approved six contracts for improving roads and bridges in the 12-county Salem district at a total cost of $7.5 million. Statewide, the board awarded contracts totalling $30.6 million. Work on most projects will begin next month.

- Staff report

State will help fund Botetourt RR

The Commonwealth Transportation Board on Thursday approved a $150,000 grant to help pay for a railroad track to serve the proposed A.O. Smith Corp. auto parts plant in Botetourt County.

The money will come from the state's Industrial Access Railroad Track Program.

A.O. Smith of Milwaukee this month announced plans to build a 400,000-square-foot plant that will employ 180 on a 41-acre site south of Cloverdale. Construction of the $32 million plant will begin next year.

About 1,700 feet of new track will connect the plant with a Norfolk Southern rail line. The company estimates it will ship up to 2,000 rail carloads of freight annually, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The industrial access funds were requested by the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors. Cost of building the track is estimated at $364,000.

- Staff report

Flooded farmers can get fences

The Virginia Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization, said it will offer its members in 17 flood-stricken Virginia counties fencing supplies at or below the organization's cost.

Major damage to fences was caused by this summer's flooding in the affected counties, which included Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Franklin, Giles and Rockbridge, the bureau said. A mile of barbed-wire fencing can cost $1,400.

The Farm Bureau also is asking for contributions to help offset the cost of the fencing further. Orders for the fencing will be accepted through Sept.30.

- Staff report