Route 8 construction to cause traffic changes in Patrick Co.

Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23, a section of Rye Cove Street (Route T-1006) in Stuart will close to through traffic as part construction on the new Route 8 connector project.

Rye Cove Street will be closed to through traffic between its intersections with Buena Vista Avenue and Rucker Street.  Signs will be in place on Rucker Street to detour through traffic around the closure. Motorists will need to seek alternate routes. 

As part of the Route 8 connector construction, a section of Rye Cove Street will be reconfigured and will no longer be a through road.  Starting Wednesday, Sept. 23, Rye Cove Street between Buena Vista Avenue and Rucker Street will be permanently closed to through traffic.

In June 2009, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $2.6 million contract to Sowers Construction Co. from Mount Airy, N.C. to construct about 0.4 mile of new road that will provide a more direct access from the Route 58 Bypass to Route 8 in the Town of Stuart. 

The new section of road will extend from North Main Street to the intersection of Route 58 Business (Blue Ridge Street) and Johnson Street.

The Route 8 connector project also entails reconstructing Route 8’s intersections with North Main Street (Route T-1009) and Dobyns Road (Route T-631).  The new road will provide two 12-foot travel lanes and curb and gutter.

Work on the Route 8 connector is expected to be completed in summer 2011.