ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, July 7, 1996                   TAG: 9607080094
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-3  EDITION: METRO 


ROADWATCH

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

BEDFORD COUNTY

Virginia 122: Resurfacing several locations between city of Bedford and Big Island.

U.S. 221: Resurfacing from city of Bedford to Virginia 671.

Virginia 695: Road will close Monday for pipe replacement near Montvale. Reopens in two weeks.

Virginia 122: At Virginia 801, the bridge deck is being replaced. No vehicles wider than 8 feet. Temporary traffic signals control traffic during construction.

Virginia 661 (Camp Ruthers Road): The bridge is being replaced over the Norfolk Southern tracks, between Virginia 811 and U.S. 221. Motorists will need to find alternate routes.

Virginia 671 (Timberidge Road): Bridge over the Norfolk Southern tracks near Forest is being replaced. The road will be under construction, and surface treatment will be applied between U.S. 460 and U.S. 221.

BOTETOURT COUNTY

Interstate 81: Repair and asphalt overlay of the concrete pavement between mile markers 152 and 162. Temporary lane closures in northbound and southbound lanes. Speed limit reduced to 55 mph.

Virginia 654 (Read Mountain Road): The bridge at U.S. 11 is being widened. No left turns allowed from southbound U.S. 11 onto Virginia 654 or 1003, or from 654 to 11.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Virginia 615: Road under construction from Virginia 684 to a mile north.

Virginia 679: Road under construction from west of Virginia 678 to its end.

Virginia 734: Pipe replacement will begin soon between Virginia 641 and 735.

U.S. 220 Business Bypass: Construction is under way to extend the acceleration ramp leading from northbound U.S. 220 Business to southbound U.S. 220 Bypass.

Virginia 800: The road is under construction from Virginia 980 to its end. Surface treatment will be applied.

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

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

GILES COUNTY

Virginia 61 bridge reconstruction The bridge near Narrows is being repaired. One lane will be closed.

Memorial Boulevard and College Street: Work is under way to replace box culverts on both streets.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Virginia 177: Work is under way to add southbound lanes from Interstate 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.

U.S. 11 (Green Hill): Work is under way near the Roanoke County/Montgomery County line to relocate the eastbound lanes and construct a new bridge over the Norfolk Southern tracks.

ROANOKE and ROANOKE COUNTY

Brandon Avenue: Brandon Avenue is being widened into five lanes from Mudlick Road to Keagy Road. One lane of traffic will be open in each direction during construction. Completion is expected in fall 1997.

Colonial Avenue: Colonial is closed to through traffic between Virginia 419 and U.S. 221 until Aug. 30. Virginia 419 to Penn Forest is open. The connection of Hazel Drive to Colonial is closed.

Peters Creek Road Extension: The section from Melrose Avenue to Shenandoah Avenue is under construction. Flaggers directing traffic. Expect delays. Old Stevens Road is closed to through traffic between Red Fox Lane and Salem Turnpike. Signs are posted. Detour onto Red Fox. Watch for new traffic patterns on Salem. Expect both eastbound and westbound lane closures on Melrose in coming weeks. Construction has begun on the second section from Shenandoah to Brandon Avenue.

Second Street (Gainsboro Road): Work is under way to widen Second Street from Salem Avenue north to Orange Avenue. A bridge is being built over the Norfolk Southern tracks near the existing grade crossing, which is closed. Follow signs for new traffic patterns. 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. Gilmer Avenue will be restricted to local traffic between Second and Patton Avenue. Patton is restricted to local traffic between Gainsboro and Second. During working hours, Gilmer and Patton will be restricted to one lane, with flaggers controlling traffic. Harrison Avenue is closed from Gainsboro Road to one block west. Completion is expected in fall 1997.

Yellow Mountain Road: Utility companies will be working on Yellow Mountain Road (Virginia 668) from U.S. 220 to 0.1 mile north of Virginia 667. At times only one lane will be open.

Interstate 81: Bridges over Masons Creek between Exits 140 (Virginia 311) and 141 (Virginia 419) are being replaced. The southbound on-ramp at Exit 141 (Virginia 419) is closed. Motorists can use Virginia 311 to Exit 140 to travel south. Speed has been reduced to 55 mph. Northbound and southbound traffic has been switched onto the new bridges. Estimated completion is spring 1997.

Cresthill Drive: Cresthill Drive is closed starting 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 the fall.

###Hershberger Road: The section between Fralin Road and Hazelridge Road will be closed Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to repair a sewer line.

HENRY COUNTY

U.S. 58: The 4.6-mile stretch from Virginia 684 to Spencer is being widened to four lanes.


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