ROADWATCH: July 24-31, 2020

The following is a list of forecasted highway projects that may impact traffic traveling in the 12-county Salem Transportation District this week. Work schedules and construction project timelines are always subject to change and weather dependent. New information is noted by “NEW” and updates are noted when a current project has had an update added to the listing. The Salem District covers Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, and Roanoke.

TRAFFIC ALERTS:

·        511: For the most current traffic and road work information, call 511 or visit www.511virginia.org.

·        TWITTER: You can also follow 511 Twitter feeds for the southwest area of Virginia at @511southwestva or follow @VaDOTSalem on Twitter.

·        FACEBOOK: Join our Facebook community group page at www.facebook.com/groups/VDOTSalem for traffic and general information on projects in the Salem District area.

·        On the 511 website, drivers can also sign up to receive personalized traffic alerts, view traffic cameras or download the free Android or iPhone mobile app.

 

ROAD MAINTENANCE: VDOT performs the following activities as part of routine maintenance on roadways throughout the district. To submit a work order request for road repairs or assistance, contact our customer service center at 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) or submit online at www.virginiadot.org.

·        PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will pave, patch and repair pavement on various routes.  Lane closures may be in place and flaggers may control traffic at times during daylight hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.

·        PAVEMENT MARKINGS – Pavement marking operations will be performed district wide, in various counties on secondary routes. These will be mobile operations with lane closures, as they proceed through each county. Motorists should use caution and follow mobile signs for direction.

·        DITCHING, GRADING, SLOPE AND SHOULDER REPAIRS – Lane closures may be in place during daylight hours for shoulder repairs. Watch for flaggers controlling traffic.

·        PIPE REPLACEMENTS – Crews will be working on various secondary roads to replace pipes under the roadway with periodic lane closures during daylight hours on weekdays. Watch for flaggers controlling traffic.

·        DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE – Crews will be working on various secondary roads where drainage issues are present with periodic lane closures during daylight hours on weekdays. Watch for flaggers controlling traffic.

·        MOWING, TREE TRIMMING AND BRUSH REMOVAL (VARIOUS ROUTES) – Crews will mow on secondary routes during daylight hours on weekdays. Watch for lane and/or shoulder closures.

·        UNPAVED ROAD MAINTENANCE – Crews will be working on various secondary non-hard surface roads grading and replacing stone with periodic lane closures during daylight hours on weekdays.  Watch for flaggers controlling traffic.

·        GUARDRAIL REPAIRS – Lane closures may be in place for guardrail repairs at various locations. Work will be performed during daytime hours from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 

PAVING INFORMATION: VDOT now offers coverage of tracking paving progress statewide, which allows community members and stakeholders to view specific locations slated for paving and individual details of each project. Paving season typically extends from April to November and the map is updated weekly to detail exactly where paving projects are planned, ongoing and show how they’re to give residents and travelers a tool to use to best plan for travel and stay safe near these work zones. Drivers can get specific information about the status of paving projects at the Virginia Roads Paving Map or www.virginiaroads.org.

 

INTERSTATE 81

           

(UPDATED 7-24-20) * INTERSTATE 81 LANE WIDENING CONSTRUCTION EXIT 141 TO EXIT 143 – A project to widen the lanes on I-81 in Roanoke in both northbound and southbound directions between Exit 141 to Exit 143 has begun. Installation of construction signs is taking place along with surveys and clearing operations. Work may be conducted within the median and barrier walls are being put in place. Weekday and weekend lane and shoulder closures may be in place for guardrail removal, shoulder wedging and paving. Estimated completion date of the project is summer of 2022.

·       Weather permitting, drivers can expect a left lane closure on northbound and southbound I-81 from Sunday through Friday morning, 8 p.m. at night until 6 a.m. the following morning from exit 140 to 143.

 

(UPDATED 7-24-20) * I-81 NORTHBOUND AT EXIT 105 NEW RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Lane and shoulder closures may be in place near exit 105. Lane closure may be in effect during the week from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Shoulder closures may be in effect at any time during the week. Slow rolls may be performed on I-81 in the north and southbound lanes from mile marker 104 to 106 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Speed limit is reduced to 60 miles per hour in the work zone. Shoulder closures will remain in place though the duration of the project.

·       Beginning Monday, July 20 through Saturday, July 25, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., I-81 southbound will have right lane closures from mile marker 106-104 for guardrail and drainage improvements.

·       A right lane closure will be in place on south I-81 between mile marker 106-104 beginning at 9 p.m. on Monday night, July 27 through 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, July 28.

·       SLOW ROLLS:

o   Slow rolls may be utilized periodically on both the northbound and southbound lanes from mile marker 98-109 for structural steel deliveries and setting beams.

 

(UPDATED 7-24-20) * I-81 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AT EXIT 114 IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY – The bridge replacement of the two Interstate 81 bridges over Route 8, northbound and southbound, is underway. Drivers can expect alternating lane and shoulder closures, northbound and southbound, from mile marker 114 to 115. Exit 114 ramp shoulder closures will be ongoing from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Speed limit is reduced to 60 mph in the work zone.  Route 8 will have alternating northbound and southbound shoulder and lane closures, day or night, as needed between the I-81 on and off ramps. A temporary traffic signal will direct traffic on Route 8 throughout the duration of the project. Access to all properties will be maintained during construction. Estimated completion is summer 2021.

·       NEW: Beginning August 2, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning, the northbound off-ramp onto Route 8 will be closed. Message boards will notify drivers of the closure.

·       DMV Notice: The bridge on I-81 northbound at mile marker 114 currently has a restricted width for wide loads of 26 feet or larger.

 

(NEW 7-24-20) * I-81 PAVING AND WIDENING PROJECT IN PULASKI COUNTY – A project to widen the shoulder and extend an acceleration lane on northbound I-81 at exit 89 is underway. Drivers can expect alternating left and right lane closures between the south end of the Route 644 bridge to the south end of the Route 100 bridge during nighttime hours, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning.

 

(UPDATED 1-10-20) * ROUTE 11 TURN LANE CONSTRUCTION AT PULASKI COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL – Route 11 (Lee Highway) between Route 1156 (Country Club Drive) and

Route 807 (Hatcher Road) will undergo utility work along the shoulder and have trucks entering the highway during construction. Construction will impact northbound and southbound lanes with either a shoulder closure and/or lane closure between 9a.m. and 3 p.m.  Route 11 northbound will have a lane closure for turn lane construction.  The entire project time frame extends to fall 2020.

 

(UPDATED 5-1-20) * OLD ROUTE 100 BRIDGE OVER PEAK CREEK CLOSED FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT – A project to replace the bridge on Route F047 (Old Route 100) over Peak Creek in Pulaski County is underway requiring the bridge to close and a detour to be put in place. The bridge is located on the service road that runs parallel to Interstate 81 between exits 94 and 98 and crosses Peak Creek that connects to Claytor Lake. It is approximately 5.5 miles east of the town of Pulaski and 4.8 miles south of Dublin. The road will be closed in both directions on Old Route 100, Route F047, and Possum Hollow Road from 1.61 Miles north of Route 99 to 2.73 miles south of Route 100. Detour signs will be in place to alert the traveling public and cyclists. Weather permitting, the bridge is expected to re-open in October 2020.

·       NEW: Traffic on Route 99 and Route 672 may experience delays due to the delivery of industrial beams.

DETOUR:

·       The detour during construction of the new bridge will direct drivers traveling northbound to use exit 94 for access onto I-81 and to use exit 98 when exiting off of I-81. Drivers traveling southbound will access I-81 using exit 98 and exit I-81 by using exit 94.

·       Motorists travelling to either Conrad Brothers Marina or Rock House Marina are advised to exit Interstate 81 at exit 98.

·       Bicyclists traveling north on Bicycle Route 76 will leave Bicycle Route 76 at the intersection with Route 99 (East Main Street) and head north towards the town of Pulaski to Route 611 (Bob White Boulevard) that turns into Newbern Road. Bicyclists will then follow Route 611 to where it intersects with US Bicycle Route 76.

BOATERS:

·       Boats operating on Claytor Lake in the vicinity of Peak Creek will continue to have access to the upstream waterway but should use caution. Boaters will see a large barge in the water at the Old Route 100 Bridge and a construction work zone will be posted in the water on water buoys. As boats approach the area for access, signs will direct them to possible changes in direction that will alternate to the left or right of the waterway. As a safety precaution, access to the waterway also may be closed at various times during construction and signs will be posted if this should occur.

 

(UPDATED 7-24-20) * ROUTE 100 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT – Two bridge replacements are underway on Route 100 (Cleburne Boulevard) in Dublin. The bridges are located over Route 11 and over the railroad and Route 689 (Peppers Ferry Road).  Drivers can expect lane closures and heavy trucks entering and exiting the roadway during daytime hours, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lanes will be reduced to one lane in both directions from late fall through the duration of the project. Route 100 Southbound will continue to serve as the Route 100 northbound and southbound lanes. Width restriction of 10 feet in place with no wide loads allowed. Message boards will alert drivers. Work is anticipated to be complete by July 2020.

AUGUST 2020 TRAFFIC SWITCH:

A traffic switch will move traffic on the northbound side to the new bridge by the middle of August 2020.  The left lanes of both the northbound and southbound sides will remain closed through the end of August to complete median work.

·       Old Peppers Ferry Road may be closed to through traffic from Newbern Street to the Route 100 overpass until July 2020.

·       Tate Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Hawkins Street to the Route 100 overpass through July 2020.

·       Traffic will continue to utilize the new traffic pattern from Route 100 Northbound to Route 100 Southbound from Baskerville Road, Route 635 to 4^th Street, Route 1003.

·       Right and left lane closures will be in place on Route 100 north and southbound.

·       A width restriction is in place to 10 feet wide. Wide loads not permitted on Route 100 north and southbound between Route 1003 (4^th Street) and Route 635 (Baskerville Road).

·       A right lane closure is in place on Route 11 southbound for work to occur on the ramp.

The ramp off of Route 100 southbound onto Route 11 southbound will be closed for pavement rehabilitation. A signed detour will be in place.