Bristol District Weekly Traffic Alert: April 21 - 27, 2025

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 https://511.vdot.virginia.gov for real-time traffic information.

Entries with (NEW) or (UPDATE) indicate revisions since last week’s report.

INTERSTATE PROJECTS

Interstate 81 – widening (Washington County): A project to widen I-81 southbound between exits 10 and 7 in Washington County, as well as widening approximately one mile of northbound I-81 from exit 7 to the north, is underway. The north and southbound traffic pattern is shifted while construction is underway. (Completion: November 2025)

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

(UPDATE) Interstate 81 - Route 11 widening at exit 5 (Bristol): The City of Bristol is widening a portion of Route 11 and the I-81 southbound and northbound off-ramps at exit 5 to improve traffic flow and safety. Intersection and traffic signal improvements are included. The southbound I-81 exit 5 off-ramp will be closed 9 p.m. Friday, April 25 through 6 a.m. Monday, April 28, weather permitting. Signs and message boards will be set up for detour information during this time. (Completion: May 2026)

Interstate 81 – Deceleration lane extension at exit 81 (Wythe County): A project is underway to extend the deceleration lane at exit 81 on Interstate 81 southbound. Be alert to changing traffic patterns, signs and message boards. (Completion: October 2025)

Interstate 81 – Roadway improvements (Wythe County): A project is underway to construct an auxiliary lane southbound between exits 73 and 72. Be alert to periodic lane closures in this area. (Completion: Fall 2026)

Interstate 77 – Roadway improvements (Wythe County): Roadway improvements are underway north and southbound from exit 40 to exit 47 in Wythe County. Be alert to potential delays between 10:30 a.m. and noon Mondays and Wednesdays during construction. Pay attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: May 2025)

Interstate 77 – Bridge replacement (Bland County): Replacement of the northbound I-77 bridge at exit 62, located over Route 606 (Wilderness Road), is underway in Bland County. Be alert to nighttime lane closures. Pay attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: Late 2025)

Interstate 77 - Bridge rehabilitation over Route 52 (Bland County): Be alert to periodic lane closures due to bridge work on I-77 north and southbound at mile marker 54.2 over Route 52. Pay attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: May 2025)

Interstate 77 – Truck climbing lane (Wythe County): Construction is beginning on a truck climbing lane on I-77 northbound from mile marker 30.6 to exit 32 in Wythe County. Be alert to traffic pattern changes and pay attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: June 2026)

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

Interstate 81

• Day and nighttime mobile lane closures due to pothole patching on I-81 in Washington, Smyth and Wythe counties.
• Day and nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound between mile markers 23 and 26 in Washington County April 22 – 25.
• A super load will travel northbound April 21 – 25 from Bristol to the Virginia/West Virginia state line.
• Nighttime roadway sweeping north and southbound from mile marker 77 to mile marker 82 in Wythe County.

Interstate 77

• Day and nighttime mobile lane closures due to pothole patching on I-77 in Bland and Wythe counties.
• Nighttime tunnel inspections at the East River Mountain Tunnel north and southbound in Bland County. All wide loads over 12 feet must stop before entering the tunnel.
• Nighttime tunnel maintenance at the Big Walker Mountain Tunnel southbound in Bland County. All wide loads over 12 feet must stop before entering the tunnel.
• A super load will travel southbound April 21 – 25 from the Virginia/West Virginia state line to the Virginia/North Carolina state line.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH-TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

Buchanan County

Bridge construction on Route 646 (Guesses Fork Road) over Left Fork: Work to construct the bridge on Route 646 (Guesses Fork Road) over Left Fork in the Hurley community in Buchanan County begins mid-April. Be alert to signs and message boards. (Completion: October 2025)

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. Buchanan Materials is relocating the section of the roadway as part of their coal preparation plant expansion. Pay close attention to detour signs in the area. (Completion: Late Spring 2025)

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A: Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A construction continues in Buchanan County. The project created a permanent change for Route 614 (Woods Fork). Access to the north and south ends of Route 614 is via Routes 609 (Bull Creek Road) and Route 604 (Poplar Creek Road), respectively, which connect to Route 460 west of Grundy. Route 604 is open to traffic but stay alert to signs, message boards and flaggers as work continues in the area.

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase B: Be alert to a new traffic pattern on Route 460 at Grundy due to the construction of Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase B. The traffic change is from Route 460 near Hill Street in Grundy and continues along westbound Route 460 for approximately 0.8 miles to where traffic will merge back onto current Route 460.

Dickenson County

Route 63 bridge replacement: Route 63 bridge replacement is underway in the Town of Haysi in Dickenson County. Be alert to temporary traffic signals controlling one-way traffic through the work zone. (Completion: April 2026)

Scott County

(NEW) Route 71 (Nickelsville Highway) pipe replacement: Monday (April 21), be alert to a pipe replacement project on Route 71 (Nickelsville Highway) between Tobacco Lane and Corn Ridge Lane in Scott County. Motorists should be alert to the possibility of delays while work is underway during daylight hours. (Completion: April 21)

Route 23/58 intersection improvements: Pay close attention to an improvement project at the intersection of Route 23/58 at Duffield in Scott County. The project includes changes to where the traffic signal supports are located, adding a northbound Route 23 left and right turn lane, and adding a right turn lane from Route 871 (Natural Tunnel Parkway Road) onto northbound Route 23. Motorists should pay close attention to signs and message boards and be alert to periodic traffic pattern changes during the project. (Completion: June 2026)

Smyth County

(NEW) Route 631 (Cliff View Road) low water bridge closure: The low water bridge on Route 631 (Cliff View Road) over the North Fork Holston River near Route 725 (Gillespie Hollow Road) in Smyth County will be closed from 9 a.m. April 28 through May 16 for improvements and repairs. Plan alternate routes during this period. (Completion: May 16)

Route 11 roundabout: A project is underway to build a roundabout on Route 11 at the intersection of Browns Subdivision Road in Smyth County, approximately one mile east of Oak Point Elementary School. Temporary traffic signals are in place and will remain active until completion. Be alert to workers and pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: June 2025)

Tazewell County

Front Street bridge replacement in Richlands: The replacement of the Front Street bridge over the Clinch River is underway. The bridge project is located at the intersection of Front Street with Fairfax Avenue, to the intersection of Front Street with Allegheny Street in the Town of Richlands in Tazewell County. The current bridge is closed to traffic. Motorists will detour using Route 460, Railroad Avenue, 2nd Avenue, Fairfax Avenue and Allegheny Street. Pay close attention to signs and message boards. Motorists are advised to be alert to detour signs in the area. (Completion: April 2026)

Leatherwood Lane and Commerce Drive intersection improvements: Be alert to construction at the Leatherwood Lane and Commerce Drive intersection in the Bluefield area of Tazewell County. While construction is underway, a detour will be in place to allow for the construction of offset left turn lanes and the installation of new traffic signals. Offset left turn lanes shift left-turning traffic closer to oncoming traffic to increase sight distance. Pay attention to signs and message boards. During construction, be alert to periodic lane closures on Route 460 east and westbound. (Completion: August 2025)

Washington County

Route 58 washout in the Damascus area: Route 58 is closed due to a significant washout between Route 91 at Damascus and Feather Camp Road in the Konnarock area. Be alert to signs and message boards as crews work to repair and rebuild the road. (Completion: Summer 2025)

Wise County

(UPDATE) Route 23 and Carriage Lane intersection safety improvements: On Tuesday (April 22), near the north end of the Route 23 work zone near Carriage Lane, be alert to a one-day traffic switch in the southbound lanes to install a pipe across Route 23. Pay close attention to signs and be alert to the one-day traffic pattern change. This is part of the project to improve safety on Route 23 near Indian Mountain Trade Center and the intersection with Carriage Lane. The project includes new turn lanes and the removal of two median crossovers. (Completion: December 2025)

Wythe County

Progress Park Connector/I-77 Exit 41: Construction of a new 2.3-mile connector road between Nye Road and E. Lee Trinkle Road is underway, providing a direct connection to Wytheville’s Progress Park industrial site.  A 0.3-mile portion of Lover's Lane was closed this Spring and remains closed for the project's duration. The closed section of Lover's Lane is located 1.6 miles from Nye Road and 0.5 miles from Pepper's Ferry Road. Construction is also ongoing at the I-77 interchange at exit 41 which includes improvements to the northbound lanes and northbound I-77 off ramp, Nye Road and Peppers Ferry Road. Be alert to construction vehicles, work zone signs and workers in the area. (Completion: November 2026)

Bridge rehabilitation on Route 619 (Gleaves Road) over Cripple Creek: Work is underway to rehabilitate the bridge on Route 619 (Gleaves Road) over Cripple Creek in Wythe County. Be alert to signs and message boards. (Completion: May 2025)

Route 671 (Crigger Road) bridge: The Route 671 (Crigger Road) bridge in Wythe County has been restricted to one 11-foot-wide lane and a three-ton weight limit. Replacement of the bridge is scheduled to begin October 2026.