ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995                   TAG: 9508140046
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


ROADWATCH

Here are highway and street projects scheduled this week by the Virginia Department of Transportation and by localities. Schedules are subject to change because of weather and contractors.

# Indicates new information.

BEDFORD COUNTY

Virginia 707: Construction is under way to widen and pave Virginia 707 between Virginia 24 and Virginia 43.

BOTETOURT COUNTY|

Interstate 81: The highway is under construction from milepost 147 (Roanoke County/Botetourt County line) to milepost 168. Various lane closings will be in effect in the southbound lane from milepost 148 to milepost 152 (near exit 150 at Troutville) .

Interstate 81: The bridge is being repaired at exit 162 over U.S. 11. Traffic is reduced to one lane. The southbound exit ramp will be closed. Speed limit is reduced to 55 mph.

CARROLL COUNTY

Virginia 722: Construction of a drain has begun at the Cranberry River. Drivers may use Virginia 887 as an alternate.

Virginia 823: Construction of a drain has begun over Elk Spur Branch. Drivers may use Virginia 691 and Virginia 679 as alternates.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Virginia 652: Closed one-tenth of a mile west of Virginia 625 because of flood damage.

Virginia 630: Closed 1.5 miles west of Virginia 890 because of flood damage.

U.S. 220 business (North Main Street): In Rocky Mount, the road is being widened to four lanes to the U.S. 220 bypass.

Virginia 660: Surface treatment under way; expect minor traffic delays.

Virginia 802: Surface treatment; expect minor delays.

Virginia 832: Surface treatment; expect minor delays.

Virginia 853: Surface treatment; expect minor delays.

Virginia 861: Surface treatment; expect minor delays.

HENRY COUNTY

U.S. 58: The 4.6 miles from Virginia 684 to Spencer are being widened to four lanes. Traffic has been shifted to the new lanes while a bridge is rebuilt. The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

#Virginia 177: Work has begun to add southbound lanes from Interstate 81 to Radford. Work will last until the end of the year.

U.S. 460: Work is under way to improve the intersection of U.S. 460 (Franklin) and Cambria Streets in Christiansburg.

Virginia 685: Work is under way to widen and straighten Virginia 685 (Prices Fork Road) near Blacksburg. Expect traffic delays.

I-81: Bridge painting is under way at various locations with one lane closed. Work will last until the end of the month.

I-81 bridge: Bridge repair work has begun 1.72 miles south of exit 98 at Dublin. One northbound lane will be closed.

ROANOKE and ROANOKE COUNTY

Virginia 117: Realigning has begun of intersections at Melrose Avenue, Salem Turnpike and Shenandoah Avenue.

Pedestrian bridge: Construction is under way on the pedestrian bridge connecting Hotel Roanoke with the First Union Tower. Shenandoah and Norfolk avenues are open. Short delays may occur, and traffic may be reduced to one lane.

U.S. 220: A new traffic signal is being installed at the intersection of U.S. 220 and Buck Mountain Road. The traffic signal is scheduled to be working by Monday. To notify motorists, flashing advance warning signs have been installed.

U.S. 220 (Roy L. Webber Highway): Traffic is reduced to one lane at night and on weekends. Most of the construction will be between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Motorists heading south between Virginia 419 and Wal-Mart are not able to turn left onto Southern Hills Drive. Motorists heading north between Wal-Mart and Virginia 419 are not able to turn left onto Valley Avenue. Drivers can use the frontage road as an alternate. The speed limit, reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone, is strictly enforced. Alternate routes should be considered.

U.S. 11: Williamson Road is being widened from Plantation Road 1 mile north. One lane is open in each direction. The middle, or left-turn, lane has been deleted; a new traffic pattern is in place. The Hollins College entrance and LaMarre Drive are being realigned, and a new signal is being installed.

Virginia 115 (Plantation Road): The intersection of Plantation Road and Virginia 601 (Hollins Road) is being improved by widening a drain, adding turn lanes and installing a traffic signal. Work should be completed by late summer.



 by CNB