Recently Completed: Rockingham County – Route 682 (Friedens Church Road) – Intersection Improvement

This project realigned the intersection of Route 682 (Friedens Church Road) and Route 988 (Scholars Road) in Rockingham County. This project is next to the historic Friedens United Church of Christ, founded in 1762. A cemetery with a rock wall next to the road is located on church property.

Prior to the project, drivers had to make a 90 degree turn at this intersection next to the rock wall.  The wall received numerous impacts of varying degrees from vehicles.

Improvements included expanding the roadway curve by moving Route 682 away from the rock wall and creating a T-intersection with Route 682 and Route 988.

The curve radius on Route 682 was moved to the northwest and northeast on new alignment. Four-foot wide shoulders were provided throughout the project.  Drainage has also been improved.

Smart Scale funding of $1,116,434 was awarded to this project in 2017.

In 2017 Route 682 had an average daily traffic count of 2100 vehicles per day.  By the design year of 2042 the estimated average daily traffic volume is 2500 vehicles per day. 

Benefits 

The purpose of the project was to improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of the regional network by eliminating the hazard created by the sharp turn and the rock wall located close to the road.

Major Milestones 

Project plan approval Spring 2019

Right of Way  Fall 2020

Construction advertisement  Early 2023