VDOT road watch this week in Botetourt County Aug 9-14

August 12, 2019 Reader Submission

We have lots of road work going on in the county.

(UPDATED 8-9-19) *I-81 BRIDGE REHABILITATION AT EXIT 150 IN BOTETOURT COUNTY – Work on the pair of bridges has begun and will include removing the existing riding surface and overlaying it with a new layer of concrete. Patching on the bridges and underneath and paving the approaches is also included. Alternating lane closures may be in place on north and southbound I-81 between mile marker 150.6 and 149.7. For southbound, lane closures will be in place Sunday through Thursday nights between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. For northbound, lane closures will be in place Sunday through Thursday nights between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Work will include improvements to the shoulders and repairs to the bridge deck of the bridges on I-81 over Alt. Route 220 (Roanoke Rd.) and Daytime lane closures may also be in place on Alt. Route 220 (Roanoke Rd.) at various times for repairs beneath the bridges. Estimated completion is early fall 2019.

There may be southbound left and right lane closures from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
There may be a northbound left lane closure from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
As work progresses in the future, six long-term lane closures will be scheduled with three on northbound I-81 and three on southbound I-81. These long-term lane closures will start on Friday or Saturday nights and continue for approximately 14 to 16 hours through the following morning. During the extended lane closures on southbound I-81, the ramp from southbound I-81 onto southbound Route 220 and the ramp from northbound Route 220 onto southbound I-81 will be closed. Traffic will be able to use Route 11 and exit 146 during the ramp closures.

(UPDATED 8-8-19) * ROUTE 220 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN EAGLE ROCK – The project is underway. Flagging operations will be in place on Route 220, north and southbound lanes between Eagle Rock and Iron Gate, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The speed limit will be reduced to 45 miles per hour just south of Route 622 (Prices Bluff Road) and just north of Route 722 (Chatham Road). Drivers are cautioned to slow down and pay close attention through the work zone due to curves and minimal site distance. Drivers should watch for signs. Work is estimated to be completed fall 2021.

* ROUTE 685 BRIDGE REPAIRS OVER CRAIG CREEK – Work is underway to repair the bridge on Route 685 over Craig Creek. This is located near the intersection of Route 615. Temporary lane closures may be in place with flaggers controlling traffic at various times while construction signs are installed and equipment is moved to the site.

(UPDATED) *ROUTE 460 UTILITY WORK – AEP may have outside lane closure on460 eastbound (from Blue Ridge Parkway to Webster Heights Drive), and (from Webster Road to Colonial Road) from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

(UPDATED) *ROUTE 11 UTILITY WORK – Roanoke Gas may have outside northbound and southbound lane closures on Route 11 in Troutville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(UPDATED 6-28-19) * ROUTE 11 BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS OVER TINKER CREEK –Work to replace the two existing bridges on Route 11 over Tinker Creek is underway. This project will replace existing bridges on Route 11 near the intersections of Route 838 (Vista Drive) and Route 1039 (Gibson Lane). Message boards will be in place to direct and advise traffic as needed. Motorists should use caution and watch for signs and flaggers controlling traffic. Estimated completion of this project is November 2019.

There will be temporary lane closures with flaggers from Route 605 to Route 654.
There will be temporary lane closures as a new traffic pattern will be set from Shadwell Drive to Bryant Drive which will restrict Vista Drive to right in right out only for up to six months.
A width restriction of 11 feet northbound and southbound will impact wide loads.
From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., there may be a single lane flagging operation. Traffic will be stopped for up to a maximum of 10 minutes intervals.
There will be one lane in each direction on Route 11.
There will be some left turn restrictions.
The right northbound lane will be closed from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

I-81 BOTETOURT COUNTY PAVING OPERATIONS – Paving operations will be taking place on I-81 southbound beginning at mile marker 168.9 to 171.5. All traffic will be maintained through work zones with construction signs, message boards, arrow boards and TMA. The work will be performed at night from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am.

* I-81 AND PRIMARY ROUTE PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will perform paving on Interstate 81. Right and left lane closures will be in place northbound and southbound during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.*I-81 PAVING OPERATIONS IN ROANOKE/BOTETOURT COUNTY – Paving operations will be taking place on I-81 northbound and southbound at night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. All traffic will be maintained through work zones with construction signs and message boards to alert drivers.

–Submitted by Jen Ward, VDOT PR Salem District Photo by Cathy Benson