ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, April 8, 1996                  TAG: 9604080003
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  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.

BEDFORD COUNTY

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

Virginia 643: Beginning Monday, April 1, the bridge on Virginia 643 near Goode will be closed on weekdays only for repairs. Weather permitting, work should take about two weeks.

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

BOTETOURT COUNTY

#Interstate 81: Repair and asphalt overlay of the concrete pavement is under way from mile marker 152 to mile marker 162. Various lanes will be closed throughout the week. Also, expect lane closings in both northbound and southbound lanes between mile markers 148 and 152 for seeding operations. The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph through the work zone.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

#Countywide road maintenance: Patching, ditching and resurfacing is under way throughout the county. Flaggers will direct traffic through work zones. Expect minor delays.

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.

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY

#Virginia 611: Road will be closed for bridge repair work at South Buffalo Creek on Virginia 611 on Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from 0.5 mile from Virginia 661 to 0.3 miles from Virginia 738. Motorists should use extreme caution while traveling through work zones.

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.

#Jefferson Street: Work on a waterline and storm drain will cause one lane of Jefferson Street at Gilmer Avenue to be closed for a week. During daylight hours, flaggers will direct traffic. At night, only southbound traffic will be able to use the intersection; no traffic will be able to travel northbound on Jefferson Street north of Wells Avenue.

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. The speed limit has been reduced to 55 mph.

#Berkley Road Bridge: Both lanes of Berkley Road Bridge, south of King Street, will be closed Wednesday at 9 a.m. and will reopen near the end of April. Motorists are encouraged to use Gus Nicks Boulevard as an alternate route.

#Virginia 1658 (Cresthill Drive) bridge construction: Cresthill Drive will be closed April 15 at Mudlick Creek between Hillbrook Circle (Virginia 1694) and Kirkwood Drive (Virginia 1664) for road improvements and construction of a new bridge. Work should be completed in early fall.


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