Bristol District Weekly Traffic Alert: July 15-21, 2024

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 (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. Be alert to traffic pattern changes north and southbound. (Completion: November 2025)

Interstate 81 – truck climbing lanes (Washington County): A project is underway to add truck climbing lanes to Interstate 81 northbound at mile marker 32.4 and southbound at mile marker 34 in Washington 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)

Interstate 81 – lane shift near exit 3 northbound (Bristol): Be alert to shifted traffic on I-81 northbound near exit 3 due to bridge deck repairs. Northbound traffic will be shifted to two lanes in the right lane and along the right shoulder. (Completion: August 2024)

Interstate 77 – bridge widening (Bland County): A project is underway to widen the I-77 bridge northbound between exits 58 and 62 in Bland County. Be alert to nighttime lane closures. Pay attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: November 2025)

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

Interstate 81

• Nighttime bridge work north and southbound between exits 72 and 73 in Wythe County.
• Three super loads will travel northbound between the Virginia/Tennessee state line and the Virginia/West Virginia state line July 16-19.
• A super load will travel northbound from the Virginia/Tennessee state line to exit 205 in Rockbridge County July 15-16.
• Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near mile marker 63 in Wythe County.
• Day and nighttime bridge repairs north and southbound between mile markers 46 and 48 in the Marion area of Smyth County.
• Nighttime vegetation control north and southbound from the Virginia/Tennessee State line to mile marker 30 in Washington County and from exit 54 to mile marker 87 in Wythe County.
• Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near mile markers 55 and 58 and southbound near mile markers 65 and 63 in Wythe County.

Interstate 77

• Nighttime tunnel maintenance northbound at the East River Mountain Tunnel in Bland County. All wide loads over 12 feet must stop before entering the tunnel.
• Nighttime paving operations northbound between mile markers 51 and 54 in Bland County.
• Nighttime bridge work north and southbound between exit 41 and mile marker 42 in Wythe County.
• Nighttime vegetation control north and southbound between exit 24 and mile marker 67 in Wythe and Bland Counties.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH-TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

Bland County
Route 617 (Waddletown Road) bridge: Due to replacing the Route 617 (Waddletown Road) bridge in Bland County, the bridge will be closed through August 2. Pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: August 2)

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 plant expansion. Pay close attention to detour signs in the area. (Completion: August 2024)

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A: A temporary road closure is in place for a portion of Route 604 (Poplar Creek Road) due to the construction of Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A in Buchanan County. Motorists are advised to pay close attention to signs directing traffic around the area while the Route 604 closure is in place through mid-September.

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. Leading up to the traffic shift, be alert to workers along the shoulder and flagging operations.

Russell County

Route 687 bridge replacement: Replacement of the bridge on Route 687 over Route 63 in the Dante area of Russell County continues. A temporary access road is in place through the Roanoke Hill area connecting Route 63 and Route 687. (Completion: October 2024)

Smyth County
Main Street/Commerce Street intersection improvements: Intersection improvements are underway at the Main Street/Commerce Street intersection in downtown Marion. Be alert to changing traffic patterns and temporary delays. (Completion: Late Summer 2024)

Route 11 roundabout: A project is underway to build a roundabout on Route 11 at the intersection of Route 660 (Railroad Drive) in Smyth County, approximately one mile east of Oak Point Elementary School. Be alert to workers and pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: Summer 2025)

Wise County

(NEW) Route 688 (Washington Road) bridge replacement: Due to an upcoming bridge replacement project on Route 688 (Washington Road) in Wise County, the road will be shut down to all traffic beginning July 29. The work will last approximately 30 days. Traffic will need to detour using Route 607 and Route 58 west. Be alert to signs and message boards. (Completion: August 29)

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 duration of the project. 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 NB lanes, NB 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: 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 in late 2024.