Bristol's Weekly Traffic Alert

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 – widening (Washington County): A project to widen I-81 southbound between exits 10 and 7 in Washington County, as well as widen approximately one mile of northbound I-81 from exit 7 to the north, is underway. Weather permitting, be alert to daytime lane closures northbound on January 13 and southbound January 14-15 to allow workers to remove rumble strips and pave to shift traffic through the work zone. (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)

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

Interstate 81
-    Daytime bridge repairs north and southbound near exit 47 in Smyth County January 15-19. No wide loads over 14 feet when the work zone is in place.
-    Day and nighttime bridge deck repairs (right lane) northbound near exit 3 in Bristol January 15-19.
-    Daytime super load move northbound between the Virginia/Tennessee state line and exit 205 at Raphine.
-    Daytime super load move northbound between exit 72 at Wytheville and exit 150 near Roanoke. 
-    Nighttime pothole patching north and southbound from the Virginia/Tennessee state line and mile marker 27 in Washington County.

Interstate 77
-    Be alert to delays northbound at East River Mountain Tunnel Sunday, January 21 from 7-8:30 a.m. due to utility work in West Virginia near exit 1.
-    Daytime super load move southbound between the Virginia/West Virginia line and exit 40 in Wythe County.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

Bland County
Route 604 (Walkers Creek Road): Be alert to periodic closures on Route 604 (Walkers Creek Road) in Bland County due to a bridge replacement project located 3.6 miles from Route 42 and three miles from Route 608 (Skydusky Road).  Motorists are advised to watch for changing conditions, obey construction signs, and follow detours throughout this time period. (Completion: March 2024)

Buchanan County
Route 651 (Old Lester’s Fork Road) bridge repairs: Be alert to bridge repairs on Route 651 (Old Lester’s Fork Road). The bridge is closed through late January and a detour is in place. Pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: early winter 2024)

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

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A: Construction of Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A is underway in Buchanan County. Route 604 (Poplar Creek Road) is on a temporary alignment. Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A: The Poplar Creek Phase A project created a permanent change for Route 614 (Woods Fork). Access to the north and south ends of Route 614 is via Routes 609 (Bulls Creek Road) and Route 604 (Polar Creek Road), respectively, which connect to Route 460 west of Grundy. 

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase B: Work on Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase B is underway in Buchanan County. Work is taking place from near Route 604 (Poplar Creek Road) to current Route 460 in Grundy.

Lee County
Route 23 bridge replacement: Be alert to a traffic switch at the bridges over Norfolk Southern Railroad in the Jasper area of Lee County due to replacement of the bridges. Two-way traffic is now in the northbound lanes of Route 23.  (Completion: Fall 2024)

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

Smyth County
Route 622 bridge rehab:  A project to rehabilitate the Route 622 bridge over Norfolk and Western Railway in Smyth County continues. Be alert to temporary traffic signals at Route 11 and Route 622 (Haven Ridge Road).  Motorists should use caution in the area and pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: May 2024)

Tazewell County
Route 16 (W. Riverside Drive) bridge replacement over Cavitts Creek: Work is underway to replace the Route 16 bridge over Cavitts Creek in Tazewell. Motorists should be alert to one-lane traffic being controlled by traffic signals. The travel lane width on Route 16 at the bridge is restricted to 10 feet. (Completion: June 2024)  

Washington County
Route 58 widening near Damascus: Be alert to a new traffic pattern through the Route 58 work zone while road widening work is underway. All traffic has moved to the two westbound lanes through the entire work zone. Pay close attention to signs, message boards and flaggers. (Completion: May 2024)

Wise County
***Gilley Avenue – Big Stone Gap: The widening of a portion of Gilley Avenue in the Big Stone Gap area is underway and a temporary detour will be in place from January 15 through mid-April. Gilley Avenue will be closed between Ridgepoint Place and Country Inn Motel & RV Park. The temporary closure is anticipated to minimize traffic delays through downtown Big Stone Gap. Motorists will access downtown Big Stone Gap from Route 23 at East Stone Gap using Route 610 westbound (Powell Valley Road, 4th Avenue, E 19th Street, 1st Avenue, Wood Avenue). Motorists should pay close attention to signs and message boards warning motorists of the closure. (Completion: June 2024)

Alternate Route 58 bridge rehabilitation: A project to repair the Alternate Route 58 bridge over the Guest River and Norfolk Southern Railroad in the City of Norton is underway. (Completion: Spring 2024)

Wythe County
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 April 2024.