SALEM, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has made progress on clean up and debris removal from a mudslide that occurred on Route 460 in Giles County in Rich Creek on Feb. 21.
Both eastbound and both westbound lanes of Route 460 just east of the West Virginia border have been closed since Feb. 22.
As of 5 p.m., VDOT has opened the right eastbound lane of Route 460 to traffic. Weather permitting, one westbound lane could reopen before the weekend.
Westbound Route 460 traffic will need to continue detouring around the closure.
Small passenger vehicles can use Route 649 (Lurich Road). All other vehicles, including commercial and recreational vehicles, will need to use Route 61 and Interstate 77 as detour routes.
More work will need to be completed before all four lanes of Route 460 can be safely opened to traffic.
Since Feb. 21, VDOT has removed than 1,000 cubic yards of materials from the slide location. This includes dirt and debris in the roadway and from the slope along westbound Route 460.
In the days ahead, crews will replace about 200 feet of damaged guardrail, install a temporary barrier wall along the westbound Route 460 shoulder and place large stones on the slope to help stabilize it.
VDOT estimates that all lanes of Route 460 could reopen in early March once the slope has been stabilized so traffic can safely use all four lanes.
For the latest road condition information in Virginia, visit www.511Virginia.org.
