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 Exit 35: A project to widen a portion of Route 107 beneath Interstate 81 at exit 35 at Chilhowie is underway. Be alert to the possibility of ramp work and periodic delays on Route 107. Watch out for highway workers in the project area. (Completion: September 2022)

Interstate 81 – Exit 17: Be alert to nightly lane closures on Route 75 and Country Club Drive due to water line installation work as part of the I-81 exit 17 improvement project. Commerce Drive between Route 75 and Wonderland Drive is closed indefinitely to begin utility construction before the new northbound on and off-ramps can be constructed. Traffic wishing to access the businesses and residences along Commerce Drive will use Gravel Lake Road for access. The exit 17 project includes improvements to the exit 17 northbound on and off ramps, improvements to a segment of Route 75, reconstruction and relocation of Gravel Lake Road, lengthening the I-81 southbound on ramp, and relocation of the frontage road located adjacent to the northbound exit 17 off ramp. The speed limit is 60mph through the work zone. (Completion: Fall 2022)

***Interstate 81 bridges at Atkins: A project to replace the Interstate 81 bridges near mile marker 52 in the Atkins area of Smyth County is underway. Be alert to traffic shifts through the work zone. The speed limit in the work zone is 60 mph. (Completion: Fall 2022)

I-81 Acceleration/deceleration lane projects: Be alert to narrow or closed shoulders at the following locations due to projects to extend acceleration or deceleration lanes on I-81, improving safety by providing more space to exit at an interchange or to accelerate before merging with interstate traffic:

• Exit 19 northbound deceleration lane (Washington County): narrowed shoulder northbound at exit 19 in the Abingdon area. (Completion: Spring 2022)
• Exit 47 northbound acceleration lane (Smyth County): Be alert to north and southbound delays weekdays around 2:30 p.m. due to blasting work associated with the project. Blasting work will take place weekdays through early 2022. Virginia State Police will perform traffic “slow rolls,” allowing time for the blasting to occur. (Completion: late July 2022)

***Interstate 77 – Exit 64: Motorists should be alert to work underway to improve Interstate 77 at exit 64 in Bland County. Be alert to a northbound lane closure January 24-28, with a 14-foot-width restriction through the work zone. The project includes maintenance repairs to the I-77 bridges over Route 61 and Clear Fork Creek and improvements to the exit 64 northbound and southbound ramps. (Completion: May 2023)

I-77 bridges over Cove Creek: Be alert to a project to replace the Interstate 77 bridges over Cove Creek in Wythe County, located about two miles north of Interstate 81 between mile markers 44 and 42. Motorists can expect an altered traffic pattern on southbound I-77 and periodic nighttime lane closures while work is underway. (Completion: early 2023)

Interstate 77 bridge deck repairs: Be alert to lane closures on Interstate 77 near mile marker 47 in Bland County due to bridge deck repairs. The work zone is located near Big Walker Mountain tunnel. (Completion: spring 2022)

***Interstates 81 and 77 maintenance activities: This week, be alert to the following lane closures due to maintenance activities:
Interstate 81
- 24-hour bridge deck repairs north and southbound near exit 72 in the Wytheville area (Wythe County) with a 15-foot restriction.
Interstate 77
- Nighttime tunnel maintenance northbound at East River Mountain Tunnel. All wide loads over 12-feet must stop before entering the tunnel when the work zone is in place.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:
Buchanan County
***Route 627 (Youngs Branch): A portion of Route 627 (Youngs Branch) in Buchanan County is closed until retaining wall repairs can be made in the coming weeks. During the closure, the north end of Route 627 can be accessed from Route 83. VDOT is working to establish a timeframe for repairs.

Hurley flooding – impacted roads: Following recent flooding in the Hurley area of Buchanan County, efforts are underway to make needed repairs on Routes 646 and 647. Use caution in these areas and be prepared for potential lane closures and short-term delays. Pay close attention to signs and flaggers. (Completion: early 2022)

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A: Construction of Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A is underway in Buchanan County. On September 17, the temporary closure of Route 604 (Poplar Creek Road) was lifted and the route is now open on a temporary alignment. The Poplar Creek Phase A project created a permanent change for Route 614 (Woods Fork). Access to the north and south ends of Route 614 is via Routes 609 (Bulls Creek Road) and Route 604 (Polar Creek Road), respectively, which connect to Route 460 west of Grundy.

Smyth County
Route 107 improvements – Chilhowie: A construction project is underway on Route 107 at its intersection with I-81 in the Chilhowie area of Smyth County. The project will improve how traffic moves by widening and installing a turn lane on Route 107 and the I-81 off ramps. During the project, two 11-foot-wide lanes will be open to traffic, however, there will be periodic lane closures for some operations. Due to safety concerns, pedestrian traffic will not be allowed through the work zone for the duration of the project. Motorists should expect delays during construction and are encouraged to find alternate routes. Be alert to traffic pattern changes, obey construction signs and flaggers, and use caution when driving through the work zone. (Completion: September 2022)

Route 11/107 intersection improvements – Chilhowie: A project to improve the intersection of Route 11/107 in the Chilhowie area of Smyth County is underway. Be alert to the possibility of periodic, temporary lane closures during the project. Most work will occur during daylight hours; however, there will be instances of nighttime work as needed. (Completion: late August 2022)

Route 11/Railroad Drive intersection improvements: A project to improve the intersection of Route 11/Railroad Drive in the Marion area of Smyth County is underway. Use caution in this area and be alert to flaggers. (Completion: late August 2022)

Tazewell County
***Route 19: Be alert to daily delays on Route 19 near the Russell/Tazewell County line due to rolling roadblocks associated with blasting work. The work is due to establishing the intersection for Pure Salmon. (Completion: January 2022)

Route 717 (Tazewell County): The project to replace the Route 717 (Adams Drive) bridge over Bluestone River in Tazewell County is underway and the bridge is closed to traffic. Until the bridge is replaced motorists will continue detouring around the bridge using Route 102 and 643, a distance of less than one mile.

Washington County
***Route 58 widening near Damascus: The project to widen Route 58 near Damascus in Washington County is underway. Be alert to crews beginning tree clearing efforts along the highway and in the area of the bridge over South Fork Holston River. As part of the project, Route 711 (Drowning Ford Road) was closed permanently.

Virginia Creeper Trail users should be alert to the possibility of flaggers directing trail traffic during the clearing operation. Trail users may experience periodic delays of 15-30 minutes near the bridge. (Completion: May 2024)

Wise County
Route 671 – pipe replacement: Due to replacement of a pipe beneath Route 671 (North Fork Road) in Wise County, a portion of the route is closed near the intersection of Routes 671 and 678. (Completion: late January 2022)

Shawnee Avenue bridge replacement: Due to the replacement of the Shawnee Avenue bridge in Big Stone Gap, the bridge is closed. Use caution in this area and pay close attention to detour signs. (Completion: early 2022)

Wythe County
***Cove Road Bridge Detour: Due to work to replace the Cove Road bridge over Interstate 81 in Wythe County, be alert to periodic delays on I-81 and on the Cove Road Bridge. Use caution in this area and pay close attention to work zone signs. (Completion: Summer 2022) (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.