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 lanes: 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 - Exit 17: Work continues to improve the Interstate 81 Exit 17 area. The exit 17 project includes improvements to the 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 on I-81 is 60mph through the work zone. (Completion: Fall 2023)

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

Interstate 81
- Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound at mile marker 68 in Wythe County.
- Nighttime soil borings north and southbound between mile markers 45 and 46 in Smyth County.
- Daytime bridge repairs southbound between mile markers 36 and 38 in Smyth County October 15-26. There will be a 14-foot width restriction in place from Sunday morning until Thursday morning.

Interstate 77
- Nighttime tunnel washing north and southbound at the East River Mountain Tunnel between mile markers 66 and 68 in Bland County. All wide loads over 12-feet must stop before entering the tunnel when the work zone is in place.
- Nighttime bridge deck repairs north and southbound near mile marker 24 in Wythe County.
- Nighttime bridge inspections northbound between mile markers 66 and 68 in Bland County.
- Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near mile markers 45 and 67 in Bland and Wythe counties.
- Nighttime bridge deck repairs southbound near mile marker 26 in Wythe County and mile marker 54 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.

Dickenson County
Route 83 Roundabout at Food City: Construction of a roundabout at Route 83 and Main Street in Clintwood is underway. Main Street traffic is detoured to Chase Street. Be alert to workers and pay close attention to work zone signs. (Completion: late 2023)

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)

Tazewell County
Route 16 (W. Riverside Drive) bridge replacement over Cavitts Creek: Work is underway to replace the Route 16 bridge over Cavitts Creek in Tazewell. Motorists should be alert to one-lane traffic being controlled by traffic signals. The travel lane width on Route 16 at the bridge is restricted to 9 feet 6 inches. (Completion: June 2024)

Washington County
Route 616 (Little Wolf Run Road): A portion of Route 616 (Little Wolf Run Road) in Washington County will is closed through October 26 due to the removal of metal pipes that will be replaced with concrete pipes and headwalls. The project is located 1.5-miles from Route 628 and one mile from Route 629. Pay close attention to detour signs. (Completion: October 26)

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. (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)

Business Route 23 in Wise: A project to widen a portion of Business Route 23 in the Town of Wise between Route 23 at McDonald’s and Cherry Street is underway. Be alert to flaggers and allow extra travel time. (Completion: December 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 635 (Maple Gap Road) pipe replacement: A pipe replacement project on Route 635 (Maple Gap Road) in Russell County is complete.

Route 11/140 intersection improvements in Abingdon: The project to realign the turn lanes and coordinate traffic signals located at the intersection of Route 11/Jonesboro Road and at Jonesboro Road/VHCC Drive (Virginia Highlands Community College entrance) is complete.

Bridge Inspections: Inspections in Buchanan County at the following bridges are complete: Route 1025 (Meeting House Road) over Levisa River, Route 733 (Boundary Road) over Levisa River, and Route 755 (Stiltners Bottom Road) over Levisa River.

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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.