Bristol's weekly traffic alert: March 18-24, 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 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 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)

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

Interstate 81
-    Daytime pothole patching operations north and southbound between exits 54 and 73 in Smyth and Wythe counties.
-    Nighttime pothole patching operations north and southbound between mile marker 27 and the Virginia/Tennessee state line.
-    Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near mile marker 52 in Smyth County.
-    Nighttime environmental assessment northbound near mile marker 78 in Wythe County.
-    Nighttime bridge deck repairs southbound near exit 29 in Washington County and near exit 50 in Smyth County.
-    Day and nighttime bridge repairs north and southbound near exit 47 in Smyth County March 18-22. No wide loads over 14 feet when the work zone is in place.

Interstate 77
-    Nighttime tunnel maintenance north and southbound at the East River Mountain Tunnel in Bland County. All wide loads over 12 feet must stop before entering the tunnel.
-    Daytime pothole patching operations north and southbound between exit 41 and mile marker 67 in Wythe and Bland counties.
-    Nighttime bridge repairs northbound between mile marker 59 and exit 64 in Bland County.
-    Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near mile marker 26 and southbound near mile marker 31 in Wythe County.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

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 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. 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 an altered traffic pattern at the bridges over Norfolk Southern Railroad in the Jasper area of Lee County due to the replacement of the bridges. Two-way traffic is currently 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 continues. A temporary access road is in place through the Roanoke Hill area connecting Route 63 and Route 687. (Completion: October 2024)

***Route 646 road/shoulder repair: Be alert to a road closure on Route 646 (Tunnel Road) approximately 0.6 miles from Route 620 (Finney Road) in Russell County. Crews will be making repairs to the road/shoulder. (Completion: March 20)

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 to replace the Route 16 bridge over Cavitts Creek in Tazewell continues. 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 flaggers directing traffic along Route 58 near the intersection of Route 58 and Route 718 (Vails Mill Road) due to shoulder and roadway tie-in work. While Route 58 widening continues, all traffic is using the two westbound lanes through the work zone. Pay close attention to signs, message boards and flaggers. (Completion: May 2024)

Old Route 11/Hillman Highway intersection improvements: Old Route 11 at its intersection with Route 609 (Hillman Highway) in Washington County is closed to allow crews to improve the intersection. Pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: March 2024)

Wise County
Gilley Avenue – Big Stone Gap: The widening of a portion of Gilley Avenue in the Big Stone Gap area continues and a temporary detour is in place through mid-April. Gilley Avenue is closed between Ridgepoint Place and Country Inn Motel & RV Park. The temporary closure will help 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 median barrier construction: Work is underway to install permanent concrete median barriers on Alternate Route 58 in the Tacoma area of Wise County east of Stone Mountain Road. The left lane in both directions is closed. Be alert to flaggers and message boards. (Completion: May 2024)

Wythe County
***Progress Park Connector: 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 will be closed beginning Monday, March 18 and will remain closed for the duration of the project. The section of Lover's Lane to be closed is located 1.6 miles from Nye Road and 0.5 miles from Pepper's 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 April 2024.

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