Bristol District Weekly Traffic Alert: July 8 - 14, 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)

(UPDATE) Interstate 81 – lane shift near exit 3 northbound (Bristol): Be alert to shifted traffic on I-81 northbound near exit 3 beginning Monday evening (July 8) 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 exit 72 and and 73 in Wythe County.
• Be alert to nighttime lane closures due to bridge work in the Wytheville area of Wythe County near exit 72.
• Nighttime paving will occur between mile markers 63 and 65 in Wythe County July 7/8.
• A super load will travel I-81 northbound between the Tennessee/Virginia state line and mile marker 150 near Roanoke July 10-12.
• A super load will travel southbound between I-81 mile marker 80.9 in Wythe County and the Virginia/Tennessee state line July 8-9.
• Be alert to mobile, alternating lane closures during daytime hours north and southbound at exit 3 in Bristol due to bridge inspection work for the bridges above I-81 at exit 3.
• Day and nighttime bridge repairs north and southbound between mile markers 46 and 48 in the Marion area of Smyth County.

Interstate 77

• A super load will travel southbound between exit 32 in Wythe County and the North Carolina/Virginia state line during daylight hours July 10-11.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH-TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

Bland County
(NEW) Route 617 (Waddletown Road) bridge: Due to the replacement of the Route 617 (Waddletown Road) bridge in Bland County, the bridge will be closed from July 22 – 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)

(UPDATE) Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A: Beginning Monday (July 8), a temporary road closure will be 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)

Wythe County

(UPDATE) 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.