Route 11 roundabout construction in Smyth County wraps up soon

BRISTOL – Construction of Smyth County’s first roundabout is wrapping up in the coming days, and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is providing information to motorists about how to navigate the new intersection once the roundabout is in operation.  

The single-lane roundabout is located at the intersection of Route 11 and Browns Subdivision Road.

Roundabouts allow traffic to move around a center island in a counterclockwise direction (right turns only) to access each point, or leg, of the roundabout.

Things to remember:

• Before entering the roundabout, look left and yield to traffic in the roundabout and also yield to pedestrians.
• Enter the roundabout when it is safe to do so.
• Use your turn signal to let other motorists know which point of the roundabout you plan to exit.

Roundabouts are shown to improve safety by reducing the number of points where vehicles can cross paths and eliminating the potential for right-angle and head-on crashes. Roundabouts also increase efficiency and are cost-effective in the long term versus a traffic signal.

VDOT’s website has additional information on navigating roundabouts: https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/about/our-system/highways/innovative-intersections/roundabout/

The approximately $3 million construction project is being built by Ramirez Contracting, LLC, in Abingdon.

In November 2025, a second roundabout project on Route 11 will be advertised for bids to the construction industry.

The purpose of the project is to build a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Routes 11 and 660 (Adwolfe Road) on the south side of Interstate 81 near mile marker 40.9 in Smyth County. The project is in the right-of-way phase and construction is anticipated to begin in early 2026. It will take approximately 18 months to construct the roundabout.

Both roundabout projects are funded through VDOT's SMART SCALE program. SMART SCALE includes an application and scoring process to evaluate the projects statewide based on key factors such as improving safety and contributing to economic development.