VDOT News - Bristol

BRISTOL – In an effort to keep motorists informed, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides weekly information about highway construction and maintenance projects in southwestern Virginia. When traveling through highway work zones, use caution and be alert to changes in traffic patterns and slow-moving or stopped traffic.

To help motorists take the guesswork out of travel plans, call VDOT’s 511 or visit http://www.511virginia.org for real-time traffic information.

Entries with asterisks (***) indicate the listing is new or the status of the project has changed since last week’s traffic alert.

INTERSTATE PROJECTS

Interstate 81 bridge work at exit 19: Bridge work on Interstate 81 at exit 19 in the Abingdon area of Washington County will require nightly lane closures on I-81 and Route 11 below the interstate. Use caution in this area and pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: early March 2020)

Interstate 77 – guardrail installation: Work to install guardrail on southbound Interstate 77 between mile markers 46 and 41 in Wythe County is underway. Motorists should be alert to nighttime left lane closures and the possibility of intermittent daytime lane closures as needed. (Completion: August 16, 2019)

Interstate 81 – bridges over Reed Creek: Due to replacement of the Interstate 81 bridges over Reed Creek in Wythe County, anticipate periodic nighttime lane closures northbound. The bridges are located about one-mile north of the I-77 split at I-81 exit 81. Be advised the speed limit through the work zone is 60 mph, and the northbound lanes are restricted to two, 11-foot-wide travel lanes with the left and right shoulders closed. The southbound left shoulder is closed. Allow extra travel time and watch out for workers. (Completion: Fall 2021)

Interstate 81 – bridges over Mulberry Lane: Due to the project to replace the Interstate 81 bridges over Route 686 (Mulberry Lane) in Smyth County near exit 50, Mulberry Lane is closed underneath the interstate. Pay close attention to detour signs directing traffic around the closed portion of Mulberry Lane. Be advised the speed limit through the work zone is 60 mph, and the northbound lanes are restricted to two, 11-foot-wide travel lanes with the left and right shoulders closed. The southbound left shoulder is closed. Anticipate lane closures on I-81 during the overnight hours during construction. (Completion: Fall 2020)

***Interstates 81 and 77 maintenance activities: Be alert to the following maintenance activities this week:

Interstate 77

• Nighttime left lane closures between northbound exit 47 and mile marker 49 in Bland County due to electrical repairs
• Nighttime left lane closures southbound between mile markers 45 and 41 in Wythe County due to guardrail repairs.

Interstate 81

• No lane closures due to maintenance activities scheduled; however, be alert to work along the shoulder such as debris removal.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

Bland County

Route 666 bridge over Wolf Creek: Due to repairs to the Route 666 bridge over Wolf Creek in Bland County, signals are controlling one-way traffic across the bridge. The bridge is located near the intersection of Route 52 and Love’s Truck Stop. Use caution in this area and anticipate delays. (Completion: August 2019)
 

Dickenson County

Route 605: A road washout has created the need to close a portion of Route 605 (Russell Fork River Road) in Dickenson County. The closure is 3.30 miles east of Route 80. No timeframe for reopening has been established to date.
 

***Route 72 bridge work: Be alert to signals controlling one-way traffic across the Route 72 bridge in the Georges Fork area of Dickenson County. Wide loads over 10 feet will not be permitted while bridge work is underway. The bridge is located a quarter-mile south of Route 83 near Clintwood. (Completion: October 14, 2019)


Route 72 – slide area: Signals are controlling one-lane traffic on a section of Route 72 in Dickenson County due to a slide area. The lane closure is located .35-mile north of Route 634 and 1.65 miles from Route 663. No timeframe for repairs has been established at this time.
 

Sewer line installation - Route 83 and connecting secondary routes: Sewer line installation work is underway along Route 83 and connecting secondary routes in Dickenson County, between Clintwood and the Wise County line. Use caution in this area and pay close attention to workers in the work zone. (Completion: Summer 2019)
 

Lee County

Route 352 (Saint Charles Road) – water line: Delays may be possible during daylight hours on Route 352 (Saint Charles Road) due to water line installation work. The project begins at the intersection of Route 421 and extends north approximately 6,500 feet. (Completion: early fall 2019)

Scott County

***Route 65 – bridge replacement: Due to replacement of the Route 65 bridge over Big Branch in Scott County, the road will be closed Monday (July 1) beginning at 7 a.m. The bridge is located approximately three miles from the intersection of Route 23. Motorists can use Routes 648 and 647 or Route 649 to access Duffield, and Route 645 to access Gate City during the closure. (Completion: July 1, 2019)

Route 224: Due to efforts to straighten a portion of Route 224 in Scott County, be alert to periodic delays and flagging operations. Watch out for highway workers. (Completion: July 2019)

Route 627 bridge replacement: Due to construction of a new Route 627 bridge over Copper Creek in Scott County that is being constructed upstream from the current bridge, motorists should use caution in this area. Be alert to flaggers in the work zone. (Completion: July 2019)

Utility Projects – various locations: Anticipate lane closures during daylight hours due to power line installation along U.S. Route 23 between Route 58 at Duffield and Route 625 (Anglers Way Road). (Completion: December 2019)

Route 23 bridge replacement at Weber City: Due to replacement of the Route 23 bridges over North Fork Holston River in the Weber City area of Scott County, motorists can expect one-lane traffic and a 12-foot-width restriction in each direction. The speed limit in the work zone is 35 mph. (Completion: fall 2019)

Smyth County

***Route 658 (Tilley’s Bridge Road) bridge: The Route 658 (Tilley’s Bridge Road) bridge over the South Fork Holston River in Smyth County was closed June 19 due to the latest bridge safety inspection findings for the bridge superstructure. The bridge was to be closed for replacement beginning in the July/August timeframe and remain closed for nine months to expedite construction. Motorists are advised to pay close attention to detour signs during the current closure and upcoming replacement of the bridge. (Completion: summer 2020)

Tazewell County

Route 609 bridge over Little River at Wardell: A project to reconstruct the Route 609 bridge over Little River in the Wardell area of Tazewell County is underway. Use caution in this area and be alert to signals controlling one-way traffic that is restricted to 10-feet-wide across the bridge. (Completion: October 2019)


Route 460 bridge over Town Hill Creek - Richlands: Motorists should be alert to an altered traffic pattern due to reconstruction of the Route 460 bridge over Town Hill Creek in Richlands. Use caution in this area. (Completion: July 2019)

Washington County

Route 676 (Azure Lane): Be alert to flaggers during daylight hours on Route 676 (Azure Lane) in Washington County due to improvements to a portion of the route. (Completion: September 2019)

Route 670 bridge replacement: The Route 670 (Green Spring Church Road) bridge in Washington County is closed for replacement. Route 658 (Lombardy Road) will serve as the detour route during construction. The bridge is located just east of Route 75. (Completion: June 2019)

Wise County

Power line installation: Be alert to workers installing new power line along a section of U.S. Alternate 58 between Dwina and Virginia City in Wise County.  The project will also affect Route 651 (Bull Hill Road) and Route 784 (Bull Run Road). (Completion: Winter 2019)

Sewer line installation: Motorists may experience delays on Route 706 in the Tacoma area of Wise County due to a sewer line installation project. (Completion: Fall 2019) 

Completed

Interstate 81 acceleration lane at exit 72: Work to extend the Interstate 81 acceleration lane at exit 72 to the deceleration lane at exit 73 in Wythe County is finished. This safety improvement provides additional space for vehicles merging off and on Interstate 81 between exits 72 and 73.   (END)

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.