VDOT reopening roads for Memorial Day weekend

To help ease Memorial Day weekend traffic, VDOT is reopening roads in Wythe and Carroll Counties temporarily closed for construction or maintenance.

The roads will stay open through Tuesday, May 26.

Here is a complete list from a VDOT Press Release:

INTERSTATE PROJECTS
***Interstate 81 – bridges repairs in Marion area:  Be alert to north and southbound lane closures in the Marion area due to bridge repairs at the following locations:

-      Southbound at mile marker 43 (Completion: May 2009)

-      Northbound at mile marker 43 (Completion: late June 2009)

-      Northbound at mile marker 47 (Completion: late June 2009)

***Interstate 81 Safety Improvements – Wythe County:  Be alert to periodic lane closures due to extension of the Interstate 81 Exit 77 northbound deceleration lanes of the southbound and northbound ramps.  Also be alert to the possibility of lane closures due to the extension of the Interstate 81 Exit 80 right turn lanes of the southbound and northbound ramps.  Use caution in this area while safety improvements are underway.  (Completion: September 1, 2009)

Interstate 81 southbound in Smyth County – guardrail:  Be alert to the possibility of lane closures on southbound Interstate 81 near mile marker 48 in Smyth County due to the installation of guardrail and rumble strips.  Use caution in this area and anticipate delays. (Completion: May 2009)

***Interstate 77 maintenance activities:  Anticipate lane closures southbound on Interstate 77 near mile marker 13 in Carroll County due to guardrail repairs this week.  Also, be alert to bridge deck patching northbound near mile marker 43 in Wythe County. 

***Interstate 81 maintenance activities:  Lane closures are scheduled along the following areas of Interstate 81 this week due to:

-      Cleaning of concrete barriers in the Bristol area and Wythe County between mile markers 78 and 82.

-      Guardrail repairs at various locations in Wythe, Smyth and Washington counties. 

-      Bridge deck cleaning in Washington, Smyth and Wythe counties. 

-      Bridge patching northbound near mile marker 83 in Wythe County. 

***Interstate 77 in Carroll County – bridge repairs:  Work has begun to rehabilitate the Interstate 77 bridges near mile marker 23 in the Poplar Camp area of Carroll County.  Be alert to changing traffic patterns in the work zone.  The speed limit in the work zone is 55 mph. 

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

***Pavement Markings - mobile, rolling work zones:  Motorists should be alert to a caravan of slow-moving trucks applying pavement markings on highways at various locations in the Claypool Hill area of Tazewell County and the Coeburn area of Wise County.     

Buchanan County

Buchanan County- Water Line Installation:  Work to install water lines in the following areas of Buchanan County will restrict traffic to one lane during daylight hours: 

Route 601 – Convict Hollow (Completion: late Spring, 2009)

Route 655 – Lynn Camp (Completion: September 2009)

Route 460 Grundy – Phases I and II: Be alert to periodic lane closures on Route 460 between Route 615 and the former VDOT Coalfields Expressway office due to the installation of barrier rail that will separate traffic from building demolition work.  Be alert to closed sections of sidewalk near the former Advance Auto, Coalfields Expressway and Richardson Apartments due to demolition work.     

Motorists should also be alert to the possibility of periodic lane closures and delays on Route 460 in downtown Grundy due to the reconstruction of Route 460 and the U.S. Corp of Engineers flood proofing activities at the Main Street bridge.  The Main Street bridge is closed and there are no through traffic restrictions downtown.  Motorists will have access from Route 460 to Main Street and from Route 83 to Walnut Street. 

Use caution in these areas and be alert to the possibility flaggers directing traffic.  The posted speed limit is 25 mph in the work zone.  Motorists should use caution and pay close attention to signs directing traffic through the work zone.  (Phase I Completion: summer 2009; Phase II Completion: mid-November 2011)     

Shuttle Service during Route 460 relocation project in downtown Grundy:  A complimentary downtown Grundy shuttle service continues to be offered during the Route 460 relocation project.  The service operates from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Fridays. 

There are temporary parking lots for the shuttle service at Grundy Church of Christ and the town’s redevelopment site.  The shuttle will stop at each lot and at the corner of Walnut and Main Streets every 15-20 minutes.  Two temporary shelters for shuttle patrons to use during inclement weather are located adjacent to the Grundy Church of Christ and near the redevelopment site.   

Dickenson County

Water line installation – various routes:  Beginning in April and extending through summer 2010, be alert to periodic lane closures due to water line installation work on the following routes in Dickenson County: 

Route 63 – Big Ridge Road

Route 637 – Rose Ridge and D.C. Caney Ridge Road

Route 638 – Hill Ridge

Route 614 – Flannagan Dam Road

Route 648 – Rachel’s Chapel Road

Route 646 – Hamilton Town Road

Route 771 –  Copperhead Road

Route 709 – Tan Trough Branch

Route 818 – Patsy Lane

Routes 679 – Nancy Hollow

Route 760.

Route 80 – water line installation:  Work to install water lines on Route 80 in Dickenson County is underway.  The project is located between the intersection of Route 682 and the Dickenson County line.  Use caution in this area. (Completion: late summer 2009)

Grayson County

***Route 753:  A section of Route 753 in Grayson County will be closed beginning June 3 due to repairs to the bridge over White Top Creek.  The closure or Route 753 will be between Routes 754 and 771 in the White Top area.  Use caution in this area and pay close attention to detour signs. (Completion: July 31, 2009)

Route 58 bridge repairs:  Due to bridge repairs, traffic is being controlled by signals on the Route 58 bridge over Peach Bottom Creek located just east of Independence in Grayson County.  The bridge is restricted to one 14-foot-wide lane during repairs.  Use caution in this area. (Completion: May 2010)

Route 842 – Twin Pond Road: Be alert to the possibility of lane closures due to improvements along a section of Route 842 – Twin Pond Road in the Fries area.  (Completion: December 2009) 

Route 748 – Laurel Creek Road: Be alert to the possibility of lane closures due to improvements along a section of Route 748 – Laurel Creek Road in the Rugby area.  (Completion: December 2009)

Lee County

Alternate Route 58:  Due to a bridge reconstruction project, signals are controlling one 12-foot-wide lane across the Alternate Route 58 bridge over the North Powell River in Pennington Gap.  Use caution in this area and pay close attention to signs in the work zone. (Completion: September 1, 2009)

Russell County

Route 82 – Cleveland Road:  Be alert to the possibility of delays on Route 82 – Cleveland Road in Russell County due to curve widening work. (Completion: early July 2009)

Route 618: A section of Route 618 in the Rabbit Ridge section of Russell County has been closed to allow Paramount Coal Company Virginia LLC to perform surface mine operations in the area.  The 0.4-mile section begins about one-mile east of Route 600 and extends eastward. When the mining operations are complete, Paramont Coal Company Virginia LLC will rebuild the closed section of Route 618, eliminating steep grades and sharp curves along the existing section of Route 618.  (Completion: spring 2009)       

Russell County- Water Line Installation:  Work to install water lines is underway on:

-      Route 19 between Lebanon and Hansonville in Russell County.  Motorists may also experience delays on Routes 657 and 660 due to the project. (Completion: summer 2009)

-      Route 657 – Green Valley Road (Completion: November 2009)

Use caution and be alert to traffic restrictions during daylight hours. 

Scott County

Route 684 - Cowans Creek Road:  The project to reconstruct Route 684 – Cowans Creek Road will resume in the summer months.  (Completion: spring 2009)

Smyth County

Route 16 – bridge repairs:  Temporary signals are controlling one-lane traffic across the Route 16 bridge in Sugar Grove due to replacement of the bridge deck.  Use caution in this area (Completion: June 2009)

Route 622 – Nick’s Creek Road:  Due to a project to widen and replace a bridge on Route 622 – Nick’s Creek Road in Smyth County, a section of the route is closed to traffic.  Motorists can detour around the project by using Kelly Hill Road, Pierce Road, Big Prater Road and Route 16.  Motorists are advised to use caution in this area and pay close attention to detour signs. (Completion: December 1, 2009)

Route 11 at Exit 39:  Signals are controlling one lane traffic across the Route 11 bridge at Exit 39 in Smyth County due to a bridge deck replacement.  The project will cause periodic, temporary closures along Interstate 81.  Use caution in this area. (Completion: October 1, 2009)

Tazewell County

***Route 650: Due to the installation of a cross drain on Route 650 in Tazewell County a section of the route will be closed to traffic Tuesday (May 26) from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.  The closure will be located from the intersection of Route 640 to the intersection of Route 1031, the entrance to Deerfield subdivision.  Motorists can use Business Route 19 and Route 640 to avoid the work zone.  (Completion: May 26, 2009)

Route 19/460 bridge project: Two-way traffic through the Route 19/460 bridge work zone has been shifted to the southbound lanes.  Use caution and slow down through the work zone while motorists become familiar with the new traffic pattern.  The Lake Street entrance to Route 19/460 is temporarily detoured onto Post Street due to the construction.  Additionally, the entrance to Quarry Road will be temporarily detoured through the Miner’s Oil entrance.  There will be a 12-foot-width restriction in the work zone.  (Completion: October 2009)

Washington County

Route 75 bridge over Spring Creek:  Signals are controlling one 11-foot-wide lane of traffic across the Route 75 bridge over Spring Creek in Washington County due to a bridge deck replacement project. The bridge is located about a mile north of Tennessee.  Use caution in this area and allow extra travel time. (Completion: June 2009)

Wise County
Route 630 – South Mountain Road:  The Route 630 – South Mountain Road bridge crossing Bad Creek will be closed from June 1 – 6 due to bridge repairs and a deck replacement.  The bridge is located at the Pound Veterinary Hospital.  (Completion: June 5, 2009)

Route 78 bridge:  Traffic crossing the Route 78 bridge over Callahan Creek at Appalachia is being controlled by signals.  The bridge has been reduced to one 12-foot-lane while the superstructure is being replaced.  (Completion: November 2009.

Wythe County

Route 100 bridge and Route 637 – Greenbriar Road:  Due to bridge repairs, the Route 100 bridge over Little Reed Island Creek has been restricted to one 12-foot-wide lane and traffic signals will begin controlling traffic on both ends of the bridge beginning December 1.  Route 637 – Greenbriar Road in Wythe County has been closed due to the bridge project.  Route 100 can be accessed from Route 637 about 1.5-miles south of the bridge project (Completion: May 2010)

Route 680 – bridge repairs:  Signals are controlling one-lane traffic across the Route 680 – Black Lick Road Bridge over Stony Creek in Wythe County due to bridge repairs.  There is a 10-foot width restriction on the bridge during the repairs.  The bridge is located 0.25 miles south of Route 52.  (Completion: August 31, 2009)

Route 613 – Locust Hill Road: Be alert to the possibility of lane closures due to improvements along a section of Route 613 – Locust Hill Road in the Max Meadows area.  (Completion: December 2009)   

Completed

Interstate 81 – bridges repairs in Marion area:  Repairs to the southbound I-81 bridge over Scratch Gravel Road in Marion have been completed.

Intersection of Routes 680 and 638 – bridge repairs:  Repairs to the Route 680 – Contrary Road bridge in Buchanan County have been completed.  he replacement of the southbound half of the bridge.  (Completion: May 1, 2009) 

Route 661 – Dog Branch Road:  Minor widening work has been completed on Route 661 – Dog Branch Road in Dickenson County.