ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996                 TAG: 9603180004
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-4  EDITION: METRO 


ROADWATCH

Here are highway and street projects scheduled this week by the Virginia Department of Transportation and area localities. Schedules are subject to change because of weather and contractors' scheduling. ``#'' indicates new information.

Crews will repair road damage from winter storms throughout the district during the next several weeks. Drivers should be alert for orange cones and barrels, which indicate work zones.

BEDFORD COUNTY

U.S. 460 and Virginia 811: Near New London, construction is under way to install traffic signals. Use extreme caution.

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

Virginia 643: Vehicles weighing more than 3 tons or wider than 8 feet are prohibited from the bridge 1.2 miles south of U.S. 221 near Bellevue.

Virginia 805: Vehicles weighing more than 3 tons are prohibited from the bridge near Stone Mountain.

Virginia 666: Construction is under way to repair a slope on Virginia 666 near Forest.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Virginia 632: The road is under construction to Virginia 717, and surface treatment will be applied after reconstruction.

Virginia 832: The road is under construction between Virginia 40 and 707. Surface treatment will be applied.

Virginia 640: Five Mile Mountain Road is under construction to correct a slide.

Virginia 742: The road is under construction from Virginia 643 north to Virginia 739.

Virginia 850: The road is under construction from Virginia 643 to its end. The road is being rebuilt, a new bridge is being installed, and surface treatment will be applied.

Virginia 853: The road is under construction from Virginia 864 to its end, and surface treatment will be applied.

Virginia 691: The road is under construction from U.S. 220 to Virginia 919, and surface treatment will be applied.

HENRY COUNTY

U.S. 58: The 4.6-mile stretch from Virginia 684 to Spencer is being widened to four lanes. Traffic has been shifted to the new lanes while a bridge is rebuilt. Speed limit is 45 mph.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Virginia 177: Work is under way to add southbound lanes from I-81 to Radford.

Virginia 685: Work is under way to widen and straighten Prices Fork Road near Blacksburg.

Depot Street: Work is under way to extend Depot Street from U.S. 460 (North Franklin Street) to Virginia 8 (North Main Street) in Christiansburg. One lane in each direction will be open. Flaggers will direct traffic; there may be delays.

ROANOKE and ROANOKE COUNTY

Peters Creek Road Extension: The section from Melrose Avenue to Shenandoah Avenue is under construction. Intersections at Melrose, Salem Turnpike and Shenandoah will be reworked. Work is being done along Salem and Shenandoah. Drivers should use caution. Eastbound Melrose may be closed temporarily for pipe work. Flaggers will direct traffic; there will be delays.

Second Street (Gainsboro Road): Work is under way to widen Second from Salem Avenue north to Orange Avenue. A bridge will be built over the Norfolk Southern tracks near the existing grade crossing, which is closed. Salem is closed from the middle of the block between First and Second streets to Third Street. Norfolk Avenue is closed to through traffic crossing Second. Motorists may experience delays. Gilmer Avenue will be restricted to local traffic between Second and Patton Avenue. During working hours, Gilmer will be restricted to one lane, with flaggers controlling traffic. Completion is expected in fall 1997.

Interstate 81: Bridges over Mason Creek between Exits 140 (Virginia 311) and 141 (Virginia 419) are being replaced. Two lanes of traffic are being maintained in each direction through the work zone. The southbound on-ramp at Exit 141 is closed. Motorists can use Virginia 311 to Exit 140 to travel south. Speed has been reduced to 55 mph.

Crestmoor Drive Southwest: The bridge between Cravens Creek and Greenlee roads is being repaired. Traffic is reduced to one lane. Work is expected to be completed near the end of March.


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