ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 19, 1996 TAG: 9607190029
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
Construction could begin on a portion of the Alternative 3A bypass connector of U.S. 460 by late next year.
Work on the road project, designed to help relieve traffic on U.S. 460 between the Blacksburg and Christiansburg bypasses, was set in motion on Thursday when the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved its final location and design.
Alternative 3A consists of an approximately four-mile divided highway that will parallel the existing U.S. 460 between Blacksburg and Christiansburg. In addition, the Christiansburg U.S. 460 bypass would then be connected to Interstate 81 near Falling Branch Road and a planned Montgomery County industrial park.
Construction on the new extension to and interchange with I-81 is scheduled to begin by the end of 1997 with a 1999 completion date, said Dan Brugh, the Virginia Department of Transportation's resident engineer in Christiansburg.
He estimated the entire project would be completed by 2001, though a work schedule has not been determined for the bypass connector between Blacksburg and Christiansburg.
Final design approval for Alternative 3A had been delayed while Montgomery County mulled over its decision on the "smart" highway right-of-way issue this spring and summer. After the county Board of Supervisors approved VDOT's plans to take 140 acres in a county conservation area last month, the 3A project was put up for state approval Thursday.
The smart road - a six-mile "direct link" between northern Blacksburg and Interstate 81 just north of Christiansburg - won't be far behind. Final approval of its design will be up for the consideration by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in August.
VDOT spokeswoman Laura Bullock said the portion of 3A that connects to I-81 will be constructed first so traffic from the new bypass connector will have a place to go and because of the future Falling Branch industrial park.
"We were keeping in mind the interests of Montgomery County and the Falling Branch area," she said.
The $135 million road project, which has a wide margin of support from the surrounding community, will displace 149 homes, 32 businesses and the nonprofit Montgomery County Recycling Center. Some of those businesses include Hokie Honda and Jim Shuler's Companion Animal Clinic in Blacksburg.
Now that the project has been approved by the state board, VDOT can acquire land it needs for the entire route. Property owners will be compensated for their land and will be given relocation assistance and moving expenses.
A special right-of-way office has been set up in Blacksburg, at 2811 Ramble Road, to negotiate with affected residents and property owners.
VDOT also is negotiating with several businesses in two professional office parks along Blacksburg's South Main Street that could lose entrances because of a new interchange for Alternative 3A.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Map by staff. color.by CNB