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 – truck climbing lane (Smyth County): A project is underway to add a truck climbing lane to Interstate 81 northbound near mile marker 39 in Smyth County. The roadway shoulder is closed during construction. Pay close attention to work zone signs. (Completion: May 2024)

***Interstate 81 – truck climbing lanes (Washington County): A project is underway to add truck climbing lanes to Interstate 81 northbound at mile marker 32.4 and southbound at mile marker 34 in Washington County. The roadway shoulder is closed during construction. Pay close attention to work zone signs. (Completion: November 2025)

***Interstates 81 and 77 maintenance activities: Be alert to the following lane closures due to interstate maintenance activities:

Interstate 81
- Nighttime hazmat cleanup northbound between exit 73 and mile marker 75 in Wythe County.
- Nighttime bridge replacement activities north and southbound between mile marker 83 and exit 84 in Wythe County.
- Nighttime bridge deck repairs southbound between exit 45 and mile marker 46 in the Marion area of Smyth County.

Interstate 77
- Nighttime bridge replacement activities northbound between mile markers 61 and 64 in Bland County.
- Nighttime tunnel maintenance northbound at the East River Mountain Tunnel between mile markers 67 and 68 in Bland County.
- Nighttime tunnel inspection southbound at the East River Mountain Tunnel between mile markers 67 and 68 in Bland County.
- Nighttime tunnel maintenance north and southbound at the Big Walker Mountain Tunnel between mile markers 47 and 49 in Bland County.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

Bland County
Route 604 (Walkers Creek Road): Be alert to periodic closures on Route 604 (Walkers Creek Road) in Bland County due to a bridge replacement project located 3.6 miles from Route 42 and three miles from Route 608 (Skydusky Road). Motorists are advised to watch for changing conditions, obey construction signs, and follow detours throughout this time-period. (Completion: March 2024)

Buchanan County
Route 632 (Page Drive): A 1.5-mile section of Route 632 (Page Drive) has been closed between the intersections of Route 626 (Chambers Road) and Ballenger Road in Buchanan County. The section of roadway is being relocated by Buchanan Materials as part of their coal preparation plan expansion. Pay close attention to detour signs in the area. (Completion: August 2024)

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A: Construction of Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A is underway in Buchanan County. Route 604 (Poplar Creek Road) is 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.

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase B: Work on Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase B is underway in Buchanan County. Work is taking place from near Route 604 (Poplar Creek Road) to current Route 460 in Grundy.

Lee County
Route 23 bridge replacement: A project to replace the north and southbound Route 23 bridges over Norfolk Southern Railroad in Lee County near Jasper is underway. Be alert to one-lane traffic in each direction. Two-way traffic is running on the southbound side. (Completion: Fall 2024)

Russell County
Route 687 bridge replacement: Replacement of the bridge on Route 687 over Route 63 in the Dante area of Russell County is underway. A temporary access road is in place through the Roanoke Hill area connecting Route 63 and Route 687. The Route 687 bridge is closed, and temporary traffic signals are in place on Route 63 to control one-way traffic during demolition and construction of the new bridge over Route 63. (Completion: October 2024)

Smyth County
Route 622 bridge rehab: A project to rehabilitate the Route 622 bridge over Norfolk and Western Railway in Smyth County continues. Be alert to temporary traffic signals at Route 11 and Route 622 (Haven Ridge Road). Motorists should use caution in the area and pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: May 2024)

Route 665 pipe replacement: Due to a pipe replacement project, Route 665 (Galliot Vista Road) in Smyth County will be closed to through traffic until November 20. The closure is at the intersection of Greenwood Road and Harris Lane. Be alert to signs and message boards. (Completion: November 20)

Route 620 box culvert installation: Due to the installation of a box culvert, Route 620 (Sunset River Road) in Smyth County will be closed to through traffic November 6–20. Be alert to signs and message boards. (Completion: November 20)

Tazewell County
***Route 16 (W. Riverside Drive) bridge replacement over Cavitts Creek: Route 16 (W. Riverside Drive Drive) bridge will be closed November 8 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Motorist can use the following detour routes: Route 645 (Cavitts Road), Route 631 (Baptist Valley Road) to access either Route 637 (Cochran Hollow Road) or Route 639 (Earls Branch Road) to Route 19/460, or Route 631. Be alert to signs and message boards. Motorists should be alert to one-lane traffic being controlled by traffic signals during other times. The travel lane width on Route 16 at the bridge is restricted to 9 feet 6 inches. (Completion: June 2024)

Washington County
Route 58 widening near Damascus: Motorists should be alert to altered traffic patterns through the Route 58 work zone near Damascus while road widening work is underway. Due to removal of the old Route 58 bridge in the work zone near Damascus (Washington Co.), be alert to shuttle service for kayakers and Va. Creeper Trail cyclists through the work zone on the following dates: Nov. 7 and Nov. 13-15. (Completion: May 2024)

Wise County
Alternate Route 58 bridge rehabilitation: A project to repair the Alternate Route 58 bridge over the Guest River and Norfolk Southern Railroad in the City of Norton is underway. (Completion: Winter 2023)

Wythe County
Route 619 bridge: Motorists should be alert to one-lane traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals across the Route 619 bridge as well as a width restriction of 9 feet 6 inches due to replacement of the bridge. Trucks accessing northbound I-81 at exit 84 should consider taking Route 11 north to exit 86 to access I-81 north to avoid the narrowed lane. (Completion: December 2023)

Route 671 (Crigger Road) bridge: Due to an upcoming bridge replacement project, the Route 671 (Crigger Road) bridge in Wythe County has been restricted to one 11-foot-wide lane and a three-ton weight limit. Construction is scheduled to begin April 2024.

Completed
Route 83 Roundabout at Food City: Construction of a roundabout at Route 83 and Main Street in Clintwood is complete.

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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.