Bristol District Weekly Traffic Alert: August 25 - 31, 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 from 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. (Completion: November 2025)

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 enhance traffic flow and safety. Improvements to intersections and traffic signals are included. (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 – Truck climbing lane (Wythe County): Construction is underway 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, signs and message boards. (Completion: June 2026)

Interstate 77 – Big Walker Mountain Tunnel Improvements: Due to ventilation improvements in the I-77 Big Walker Mountain Tunnel located between mile markers 47 and 49 in Bland County, motorists can expect nighttime delays during August. While ventilation work is occurring in the northbound tube, north and southbound traffic will be escorted through the southbound tube from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly, Sunday through Thursday (August 24-29). Once ventilation work is completed in the northbound tube, the traffic escort will shift to the northbound lanes, with ventilation work continuing in the southbound tube. Motorists can expect delays during overnight hours while work is underway and should pay close attention to flaggers and escort vehicles.

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

Interstate 81

• Nighttime bridge deck repairs north and southbound between mile markers 22 and 27 in Washington County.
• Nighttime paving operations southbound between exits 19 and 17 in the Abingdon area of Washington County.
• Nighttime paving operations northbound near exit 81 in Wythe County.
• Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near exits 60 and 70 in Wythe County and exit 54 in Smyth County.
• A super load will travel northbound from Bristol to the Virginia/West Virginia state line August 25 – 30.

Interstate 77

• Nighttime paving operations southbound between exits 64 and 66 in Bland County.
• A super load will travel southbound from the Virginia/West Virginia state line to mile marker 4.8 in Carroll County August 25 – 30.

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 is underway. Be alert to signs and message boards. (Completion: October 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 619 (Skeetrock Road) Bridge Repairs: Repairs are underway on the Route 619 (Skeetrock Road) bridge over Pound River in Dickenson County, between Routes 607 and 695. The project includes using temporary traffic signals to control one-way traffic. Be alert to temporary construction signs. (Completion: November 2025)

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

Scott County

Route 72 sinkhole repairs: Due to repair work to fix a sinkhole that formed on Route 72 approximately ½-mile north of Route 675 (Midway Road) in Scott County, one-way traffic is being controlled by signals at this location. Motorists should pay close attention to work zone signs and other traffic control devices along Route 72. (Completion: Mid-September)

Route 23/Hilton Road access management and turn lane improvements: Construction is underway on access management and turn lane enhancements at the intersection of Route 23 and Hilton Road. Be prepared for periodic lane closures. Watch for signs and message boards. (Completion: October 2025)

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 the location of the traffic signal supports, the addition of a northbound Route 23 left and right turn lane, and the addition of a right turn lane from Route 871 (Natural Tunnel Parkway Road) onto northbound Route 23. Motorists should be alert to signs and message boards and watch for periodic traffic pattern changes during the project. (Completion: June 2026)

Tazewell County

Route 91 prep-work/paving: Be alert to the possibility of delays through early October as crews prepare a portion of Route 91 in Tazewell County for paving. The location of the work is from Route 604 to Route 607, a distance of 5.64 miles. Motorists should pay close attention to message boards and watch for highway workers.

Route 61 bridge replacement over Cove Creek: Due to the replacement of the Route 61 bridge over Cove Creek in Tazewell County, be alert to traffic signals controlling one-way traffic across the bridge. The width restriction of the bridge during construction is 10 feet 6 inches. The bridge is located near the intersection of Route 622 (Cove Creek Road). (Completion: September 2026)

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 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)

Washington County

Crescent Drive bridge replacement (Glade Spring): Crescent Drive is closed from East Glade Street to North Glade Street in the Glade Spring area of Washington County for a bridge replacement. Detours will be in place until work is complete. (Completion: August 29)

Wise County

Route 613 (East Stone Gap Road) bridge improvements: A bridge improvement project is scheduled to begin September 2 on Route 613 (East Stone Gap Road) over Beaverdam Creek near Clinch Haven Road in Wise County. Be alert to signs and message boards in the area for detour information. (Completion: November 2025)

Route 23 and Carriage Lane intersection safety improvements: A project is underway to improve safety on Route 23 near Indian Mountain Trade Center and the intersection with Carriage Lane. The project includes the construction of new turn lanes and the removal of two median crossovers. Pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: September 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)

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