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.

***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 acceleration lane at exit 72: Work is underway to extend the Interstate 81 acceleration lane at exit 72 to the deceleration lane at exit 73 in Wythe County. This safety improvement will provide additional space for vehicles merging off and on Interstate 81 between exits 72 and 73. (Completion: summer 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

• Nightly lane closures in Bland County from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. at I-77 Big Walker Mountain Tunnel northbound and East River Mountain Tunnel north and southbound due to tunnel maintenance. While lane closures are in place, trucks over 12-feet-wide must stop before entering the tunnel.

Interstate 81

• Daytime lane closures northbound due to paving between Rural Retreat and Wytheville in Wythe County.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

Dickenson County

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)

Russell County

***Route 623 – pipe replacement: A portion of Route 623 in the Swords Creek area of Russell County will be closed from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday for a pipe replacement project (weather permitting). The pipe is located .2 mile from the intersection of Route 622

Scott County

***Route 902 bridge replacement: Due to replacement of the Route 902 bridge over Staunton Creek in the Fort Blackmore area of Scott County, the bridge will be closed to traffic April 30 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. During the closure, there will be access via a walk bridge across Staunton Creek for those wishing to park on the east side of the bridge. (Completion: April 30)

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 871 (Natural Tunnel Parkway). (Completion: winter 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: Summer 2019)

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: June 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 677 bridge replacement: The Route 677 (Green Spring Church Road) bridge in Washington County is closed until fall 2019 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

***Route 651 (Sandy Ridge Road): Due to a pipe replacement, a section of Route 651 (Sandy Ridge Road) in the Creek Hill section of Wise County will be closed from 7 a.m. Monday (April 22) until Friday afternoon (April 26). Motorists should use Route 654 as a detour while work is underway. (Completion: April 26)
  

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) 

Wythe County

***Route 712 (Miller’s Creek Road): A section of Route 712 (Miller’s Creek Road) in Wythe County is closed until 4:30 p.m. April 29 to allow VDOT crews to make culvert repairs. The culvert is located 1.35 miles from Route 610 and 5.52 miles from the end of Route 712. Motorists should pay close attention to signs and plan alternate routes. (Completion: April 29)

Completed

Route 652 – slide repairs: Slide repairs on Route 652 (Dr. Ralph Stanley Highway) in Dickenson County are complete.
 (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.